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8. School Days 03

Midsummer late evening, Night Market entrance

Wheel and deal, lie and steal
Use all that you have
To get all that you want
This ramen is ours now
-M&M's Yakuza lesson #14, to a hungry Jaune Arc

The Valean Night Market has never been so alive. The Midsummer Festival has come once again, and Jaune finally got his first chance to experience it. He loved Ansel's festival, but it was always more of a town square barbeque; it had nothing on the massive scale of Vale's festivities. He also spent more time wrangling little sisters and protecting his food from the thievery of elder sisters than he did enjoying the celebration in Ansel.

He stood before the main gates, two massive pillars in red and gold, with painted dragons wrapping around their length. An ornate archway roof sat on top, intricate designs depicting mythical creatures and fairy tale characters. Beyond the gates, a wide, paved-stone path stretched to the far distance, until the ancient street curved out of sight. Normally, the path would be lined with dozens of stalls and shops. Tonight, hundreds of booths mashed together in raucous harmony, with likely hundreds more spilling into the many winding alleyways and adjacent avenues.

Jaune spotted Valean snacks, Mistralian street foods, Vacuan dishes, and Atlesian fares. None can be considered fine cuisine by any stretch of the imagination, but together they presented a gastronomical dream for the common man. He salivated just by looking at the sheer number of choices.

Festival games beckoned children, teens, and adults alike. Ring-toss, string-pull lottery, pyramid-toss, balloon darts, toy fishing and other, ever more obscure challenges. Prizes ranged from little candies and plastic action figures to stuffed toys as tall as Jaune to TVs and scrolls. A few lazy entrepreneurs plopped down crane machines along the road and called it a day. Jaune noticed a few shooting stalls, always a risky endeavor for the owners considering the Huntsman and Huntress population in any capital city. He supposed there had to be a few tricks specifically employed to counter the 'gun'-ho (Heh.) combat school students.

Somewhere in the crowded street, a golden stalk of hair straightened like an antenna as its owner senses a rival. They soon lost the scent, and the stalk of hair settled back on its owner's head. Their first clash won't be for a long while yet.

Uncle Hei told Jaune that his men would be out in force, manning as many stalls as the Xiong family could rent. The rest took on shifts, either patrolling the night market to keep the peace or partaking in the festivities themselves. To show that the Xiong family was a leader of the community, and to be a part of the community, according to his Uncle. Even from here, he could make out a man in a black suit and red tie buying a hamburger from a man in a black suit and red tie.

"Haahhh. It gets me every year."

"So many people, it really puts things in perspective, right disciple?"

Melanie and Miltia Malachite had no intention of working in a hot, sweaty noodle stand, escaping before his uncle could assign them a job. Luckily for Jaune, they abducted him before Uncle Hei managed to corral him into helping out. His teachers stood alongside him before the night market's entrance, taking a moment to bask in the sheer life and happiness of this day.

"I've only ever seen this on the news. It's all so big! So colorful! So crowded!"

"Yep. Vale loves its holidays."

An understatement, Jaune thought. He made to move forward, to join in. A hand on his right shoulder pulled him back. Whipping his head around, Jaune saw that it belonged to Melanie.

"Hold on, gopher. This here is a good opportunity." Miltia clapped with enthusiasm.

"A lesson from us to you."

"It's a festival!" Jaune whined, "Shouldn't we be having fun?" Melanie gave an impish smirk.

"We thought of that, and we're making this lesson a game."

"A little challenge, to spice up your first Midsummer in Vale."

"The first step, give me your wallet."

What sad times these were, that young beauties would rob innocent men in broad daylight.

Jaune's hand moved almost without input from his head, fishing out his wallet. Briefly, he wondered if it was healthy to be so obedient. He knew that suffering lay in his future, yet he still went along with the sisters' antics. Then again, they've never steered him wrong.

Melanie plucked the wallet from his hand and pulled out the Lien cards inside. Before Jaune can protest, Miltia explained.

"Don't frown, you'll get it back at the end of tonight. AND we are putting these," she held up a stack of silver Lien cards, "in their place!"

"L400, just for you, Jaune."

Actually, if his teachers wanted to give him a lesson, then as their student it was only natural that he obeyed.

"I- wow, thank you! But, what did I do to deserve this?" Melanie returned the overfull wallet to Jaune, who shoved it securely in his pocket. His head darted this way and that, on the lookout for possible thieves. Shaking her head, Melanie continued.

"You haven't quite earned it yet. Think of it as an incentive."

"Or rather, the opposite. Take this, too."

Unsure of her meaning, Jaune accepted the four blue cards. An extra L20, for something he hasn't done yet.

"That L20 in your hand, my disciple, is your budget for tonight." L20 is his budget? A measly twenty, for Vale's biggest festival?

"Melanie, Miltia, I brought L100 for tonight because I wanted to enjoy the festival. What can a twenty get me? And what about the money in my pocket then?"

"It's the night market, after all. One Lien doesn't mean one Lien here."

"A twenty can get you anything you want, if you know how to haggle."

"And that, is your training tonight."

"We didn't want to ruin your night, though. So if you throw in the towel, you can spend the L400 as you like." Jaune did not hesitate.

"I'm gonna go see what L400 gets me at that chocolate stand." Once again, Melanie firmly grabbed his arm to keep him in place.

"I won't stop you again, but I will be disappointed in you." Ouch. Jaune could already see the corner of her lips curl downwards. Miltia, too, had crossed her arms. Quickly, he backtracked.

"Alright, I'm sorry for messing around. I'll listen now."

His words earned him two smiles.

"We want you to make the L20 work. Five stalls of your choice is your task."

"Get some food, play some games-"

"-and most important of all, we want souvenirs!" Skeptically, Jaune raised an eyebrow.

"Four Lien for each store? That's not festival prices."

"We know it won't be enough if you pay full price."

"But the secret, disciple, is that it never has to be full price."

"Haggling is a traditional and honored custom of the night market."

Jaune considered his newest ordeal. He always paid full price. Then again, he shopped in supermarkets and convenience stores. He understood the broad strokes of bargaining, chief of which was that it required people skills. Better people skills than average, of which he barely made the cut on a good day. Head circling the street, his eyes lighted up.

"The crane machines, hah! I'll drown you in stuffed dogs and cats!" Melanie crossed her arms in an X.

"Nope, nope nope nope. You, are going to interact with people."

"We're not letting you become a shut-in, Jaune."

"And if you really, really are no good at this, you can give up and dip freely into the L400 and have fun."

Jaune scowled at the jab. Melanie blatantly goaded him, she knew he'd take the bait. Cursing his foolish pride, Jaune relented.

"Fine. Fine, where are we going first?"

Twin head tilted. Melanie asked, bemusedly.

"What's this we business?"

"You are doing this. We are meeting our friends on Tailors' Way."

"There's a perfectly good festival here, and you're off buying clothes?" Miltia grinned.

"The boutiques are releasing their new collections tonight!"

"They always introduce new fashion lines to coincide with the Midsummer celebration!"

"We can't just skip."

"And we are not waiting for tomorrow. Who knows if there'll be anything left?"

Melanie placed her hands on her hips. She leaned forward.

"We're not going to hold your hands through this, because we trust you. Good luck, gopher!"

With a wink, Melanie strode away. Miltia followed suit with a little wave of her dainty hand.

Alright, he'll take on the challenge. There's little downsides, considering the "punishment" in his pocket. And if he succeed, he can make his teachers proud!


Stall #1: Meat Skewers

Walking alone into the crowd, Jaune scanned the shops all around him for his first target. He won't let this challenge overtake his night. If he spends money, it would be for the stalls that interest him.

A scent wafted from his right. The spicy aroma caressed his nose, seducing his palate. A rumble from his stomach answered the scent, signaling to Jaune that he found his first stop.

Jaune set his course. He spied a simple wooden booth, an old man roasting food over a flame, and a row of meat skewers. Each skewer held five cubes of meat that dripped with juices, edges burnt black by the charcoal flame.

"One skewer, please. The beef one?"

The old man snatched a skewer with one hand, the other pulled a wrapping paper to contain the meats juices. One quick twist of the wrist, and the paper securely encased the skewer. As he made to hand over the food, he tapped the sign written in red ink, which proclaims "A Simple Meat On A Skewer- L5.00".

"Hmmm."

Jaune gave a shaky smile in return.

"Actually, I was thinking maybe three Lien would be enough?"

The hand halted, Jaune's prize an inch from his grasp before the old man pulled back. The vendor tapped the sign.

"Hmmm."

"I do see the sign, but you know, I just think that the price is a little high. What say you?" The old man lowered his hand. It now pointed to a lower sign in all capital letters, declaring "NO HAGGLING". He shook his head.

"HMMM."

This was a most difficult foe. Jaune realized that the man's age could have warned him of the danger. For how many years did he stand here, fending off the hungry masses? The vendor was no doubt a veteran of the night market. Confident enough in his wares to eschew the traditional haggling altogether. During the negotiations, he gave not a single advantage to Jaune. His eyes, squinted almost shut, hid all intent. He hummed and groaned, speaking not a word and betraying no thoughts.

"4 Lien then?"

Jaune's stomach grumbled at the lack of sustenance. The sound revealed to all present of Jaune Arc's weakness in this transaction. He was hungry, and he very much wanted the skewer. The old man snorted. He moved the skewer towards the display case.

Did 2 Lien really make a difference? He can make up for it later.

"OK, OK! I'll take it. 5 Lien."

Jaune's eyes may be deceiving him, but the old man's face, set in an ever-inscrutable frown, seemed to carry a hint of satisfaction. Smugness, almost. The vendor has defeated another customer.

Food and Lien exchanged hands. Jaune slunk away, shoulders slumped, his teeth chewing morosely into the beef. The meat tasted like ashes in his mouth, the humiliation overshadowed any joy in his meal.

Okay, it didn't. The beef was fresh and tender, perfectly grilled. The burnt edges added a bitter, spicy aftertaste. He could eat a dozen of these and not get tired.

If they didn't cost L5.00 each!

Meat on a skewer (beef)
Price: L5.00
Paid: L5.00
Remaining Funds: L15.00
Total Discount: L0.00


Stall #2: Festival masks

Jaune finished off the skewer quicker than he would like. That was the downside of events like this, everything carried a higher cost for less volume. Tolerable, if one had the money to splurge. Awful, if one had a child's pocket money, like he currently does. The L400 in his wallet niggled at the edge of his thought.

Jaune began walking through the night market once more. His head turned this way and that, blown away again by the sights, the colors, the music, the laughter. Next year, he might drag his sisters here, it'd surely be the highlight of their summer. They should forgive him by then, right?

His enthusiasm returning, Jaune reflected on his first endeavor in the ancient art of negotiations.

His mistake was in not considering his foe. In certain professions, age does not necessarily translate to weak or slow. Rather, it was indicative of expertise, of survival in this dog-eat-dog world. An old shopkeeper, experienced in fleecing his customers; an old Huntsman, experienced in annihilating his enemies and living through it. Furthermore, the vendor's demeanor, grouchy and mean, suggested he would not be inclined to talk, or chat, or barter. Jaune might have stood a fairer chance against someone younger, ideally a part-timer.

Jaune examined the different vendors, keeping his criteria in mind.

Ah ha!

A fresh-faced young man, little older than Jaune himself. The young man was definitely unused to manning the booth. Jaune could tell due to his attire. In the middle of the summer, the owner of the booth chose stand for hours in a black suit, of all things, with a tie restricting his breathing; Jaune, himself, had loosened his early on. Not only that, he has a pair of sunglasses resting on his nose, even though the sun was setting.

Yes, the vendor was one of Uncle Hei's men, wearing the same sort of suit Jaune is wearing. Here was someone who normally doesn't work in the night market, close to his age, and can be considered an affiliate to Jaune. Getting that discount should be a cinch.

Jaune ambled amiably towards the minion, whose face lit up as he noticed the boy.

"Jaune! Good to see you, having fun? Where are the twins?"

"Hey *mumble* damn it what's his name*mumble*, it's been amazing so far!" Jaune rubbed the back of his head. He really should start remembering these guys' names. "The twins, well, they ditched to go to the Fashion District."

"Hahaha! Of course, they did! Luckily for you, that means nobody's here to mock you if you buy this." Jaune's eyebrow quirked, as the still-nameless mook reached for a mask in the high left corner. He put the item on the foldable table, and made jazz hands.

Before Jaune sat a circular mask with two long ears, tapered at the bottom and rounded on top. Two black dots made up its eyes, and it sported a 'w' shaped mouth. A little tag attached to the mask showed a very familiar name.

"Ta-da! It's a Pumpkin Pete mask, and not just some knockoff! No, this is brand-name goodness that fell straight off the back of a Pumpkin Pete truck."

Shut up, and take my money.

Jaune clamped down on his impulse, physically gripping the counter to stop his hands from clutching the mask. He forced himself to inhale deeply. One second, two second, three second. He exhaled.

"You know me well, but how much is this going for?"

"L25-"

"Are you insane!?"

Sure, he bought 50 boxes of cereal, upward of L200, to get the hoodie. However, that hoodie was a special product made with the cutting-edge of garment technology. For that, L200 was cheap. This mask going for L25 is simply robbery!

"-Let me finish before you judge, my young friend. L25 is retail price. The fell-off-the-truck discount makes it L20."

"Eh that's-" the man interrupted.

"But for Junior's family? Hell, you're practically my family, so that's L16, no! L13!"

"I-"

"I can do L11, since I know you're a true Pumpkin Pete fan!"

"Ah-"

"Ah-ha! You drive a hard bargain. This is yours for nine Lien."

"Deal!"

Jaune blurted the word when he heard a good number. His head spun dizzily. The one-sided deluge of haggling finally ended. In a stupor, Jaune forked over two blue cards, receiving a white Lien card and his new possession.

"Great, here you go Jaune! Don't let the Malachites steal it, too. Hahaha!"

No fear of that, they're only interested in the hoodie.

Jaune waved goodbye to the excitable gangster. Pumpkin Pete's face rested on the side of his head at an angle, affixed by a string. As he left, he mused over the other suited man's behavior. The discount certainly has nothing to do with Jaune's persuasiveness, he couldn't even get a word in edge-wise. Could it be his natural charisma?

Pffft. There's a trick here, somewhere. Jaune examined the little tag. It appeared official enough, with the company name, address, and product name with the trademark. The other side even carried their standard warning of legal and lethal actions for copyright infringement, illegal resale, misuse of product, etc. Junior's men are brave, indeed.

The mask was real, no doubt on that.

The gangster being so willing to let it go for so low a price made sense, too. Like he said, it came off the back of a truck. The cost of inventory stock was how fast his little legs can run, and profit was any price above zero.

At the very least, Jaune didn't have to pay what the company wanted to sell it for. Getting the mask for L9.00 was a steal, considering the retail price.

...Retail...price...

Out came his scroll, fingers danced upon the holographic screen, a product page appeared.

Pumkpin Pete's Happy Face (tm). Retail price: L10.00.

...should he be glad he managed to get a discount?

Pumpkin Pete's Happy Face mask
Price: L10.00
Paid: L9.00
Remaining Funds: L6.00
Total Discount: L1.00


Stall #3: Pyramid Toss

Jaune regarded the two Lien cards in his hands. A blue card and a white card.

Six Lien.

Six Lien for three more places, making an average budget of two Lien for each. The L400 in his pocket burned in his mind.

Jaune groaned.

His loss this time was, in a way, inevitable. He hung around the guys long enough, that all of the Red Axe Gang probably knew his interests and his weakpoints. He had not considered them to be his enemies, trusting in their camaraderie.

Was the vendor one of the guys Jaune kicked in the Tournament From Hell?

He, also, should have considered the character of a career criminal. The man may not understand honest barter like other shopkeepers, but lying and trickery were the tools of his trade. It translated well to haggling.

Jaune stopped near a game booth, a Pyramid Toss challenge. Five tries, for six Lien.

Perfect.

He'd blow the rest of the budget here, and maybe get a prize or two for Melanie and Miltia. If he failed again, there's the L400 that he can now spend. He'll buy better gifts for them than what a measly six Lien can do. The twins were probably spending Lien like water at the moment in the Fashion District. He'll do the same, and make this a good night. It never felt so good to fail.

Jaune took his first step towards the booth, then another. On his third step, Jaune put his hands in his pocket. On the fourth, he hunched inward. The fifth step his stride became a short shuffle, and the sixth never came.

Jaune glumly glared into the night sky. In his mind, two unhappy faces took the place of the broken moon.

Right. He can go and enjoy the festival. He just had to let his teachers down, that's all.

They really were so unfair. Miltia called the L400 the 'opposite of an incentive'. They handed him a challenge he wanted to lose. The temptation followed him all along the way, as far back as his first step through the night market's entrance. Because of it, he acted carelessly and splurged here and there on a limited budget; a Lien lost was a Lien closer to the L400. Because of it, he barely gave a thought to the souvenirs the twins wanted beyond 'something expensive', as if that would buy their smiles.

Because of it, he almost gave up before the end.

Games within games, tests within tests. The twins asked a question without words. What mattered more to Jaune, money or respect?

Legs set wide, shoulders set high. Angry hands roughly mussed blonde locks, before reaching to tighten a blue tie. An inhale, an exhale.

Haggle discounts, acquire souvenirs. Nothing else mattered.

His right leg swung forward, a smooth step ending in a soft footfall. His left followed suit, a long stride that placed his feet on a line. His left thumb hooked into a pocket, his right hand began snapping his fingers to the music playing over the crowd. Calm, rather than intense. Suave, rather than cocky.

Jaune greeted the vendor with a carefree smile and a handshake. He gave a little wave and a wink to a few girls his age in front of the next booth over. The picture of a happy-go-lucky young dandy about town. Not a hint of pressure, no sign of his desperation.

When the stall's owner asked for the money, Jaune chuckled and sidled over. He spoke quietly.

"Thing is, my friend, I might have spent a bit more than I should tonight." The man snorted, about to wave Jaune away. Jaune pressed ahead. "Now hold on, hold on. I have enough for my ride and I'd rather not walk home, but I can spare two Lien. Would that be worth three tries?"

He placed two factors in play, the Lien and the number of tries. While the Lien he could spare remained largely inelastic, the number of tries added flexibility to the negotiations.

The man hemmed and hawed, running the numbers and weighing the chances. Jaune threw obvious glances at the nearby women, amusing the stall owner. Any distraction was worth it.

"Four Lien, and you'll get two tries. Two tries to impress the girls, how 'bout it?" A willingness to deal, a good sign. The jab at the end was unwelcome, as was the guffaw that followed. He does not need two tries to win over a girl.

"Haaaah, I'll be honest. It's not only about looking good for the ladies there. I've always wanted to play this game, but my parents never let me when I was a kid. Since I'm at my first festival on my own, I thought this was my chance. Any way you can bring the price lower?"

He was not being honest. Jaune tried for a sympathy play, yet underneath the seemingly heartfelt words, he hinted at an inexperience in the Pyramid Toss. Always wanted to, but never played? Well, it'd be money in the vendor's pocket for certain, then. A simultaneous attack on his heart and his greed. Jaune waited with bated breath, willing the man to accept the lie. The man tapped his chin for a few seconds.

Jaune shifted his stance, pointing his shoes away from the stall. Seeing Jaune about to walk, the man called out.

"Three Lien, two tries."

Jaune could see the vendor's patience starting to wear. Likely, this was the final offer. He quickly scanned over the prizes, to see if any would be worth the attempt. There was.

A stuffed fox, rounded-head and poofy-tailed, with a red bow between its ears. Stuffed animal? Check. Her favorite creature? Check. Her color? Check.

Miltia's getting that thing, one way or the other.

Jaune nodded to the offer, and stepped up to the counter.

"Knock all the cups over, get the prize! Any left standing, pyramid gets reset!"

A plate with two green balls slid in front of him. He picked one up, and a jolt of fear shot through him. The ball had a harder core, Jaune could feel the meager weight inside, but most of it was foamy. He turned his eyes to the stack of oversized cups. It'll work. It had to.

An arm winded back, elbow bent. Thumb, index, and middle fingers gripped the ball, with ring and pinky fingers curled.

His left foot took a step, his body followed. Hips rotated, his arm swung forward, and his wrist flicked as Jaune threw the ball. The projectile sped past the counter, past the vendor, and slammed into the very center of the bottom row. His finest throw. An entire side collapsed, the ball falling to the ground with a 'pomf'. Three cups stood in a smaller pyramid. Jaune's breath hitched.

As the man laughed and replaced the cups, Jaune observed the scene. His form was perfect. He adjusted for the lightness of the ball. It should've worked.

He narrowed his eyes, watching the man closely. His ears registered a small 'thunk' as a cup was placed back on the shelf. A heavy sound. Heavier beyond even their large size suggested. The cups were weighted.

Well. Not so kind a man, in the end. Fine. Jaune can cheat too.

He took his blue-tinted sunglasses from the suit's breast pocket, placing it over his eyes. Resetting his stance, Jaune glanced at the man from behind his shades. The man didn't grin anymore, drops of sweat collected on his brow. He recognized Jaune's style of wear. Not a happy-go-lucky dandy, not at all.

Jaune repeated his motion, except for one thing. As his left foot slid forward, Jaune snarled furiously at the man. The vendor flinched, and averted his gaze. In that moment, hidden by Jaune's sunglasses, a bluish-white light flashed as Jaune activated his Aura. The soft light surged down his arm in a fraction of a second, disappearing as fast as it came, accelerating his throw to a speed only Huntsmen can show. As the ball left Jaune's hand, a last mote of Aura was imparted into the ball, encasing it in a shell. The ball impacted the same bottom center of the pyramid. This time, it blasted through, sending the cups careening into each other. One cup flew past Jaune, another ricocheted off the ceiling of the booth.

The vendor's jaw dropped. Jerkily, he looked from the foam ball embedded in the back wooden wall to the suited gangster. Jaune smiled innocently.

"I'll take the fox with the red bow, please." The man tried to muster his courage.

"H-Huntsmen are disqua-" Jaune leaned in, tinted sunglasses slipping to reveal pupils just as blue. He growled.

"I'm not a Huntsman."

The vendor believed it. The stuffed fox joined Jaune's party soon after.

If a cheat cheats a cheating cheater, has he really cheated?

The little fox couldn't answer yes.

Good enough for him!

Miltia's Gift - Red-bowed Stuffed Fox
Price: L6.00
Paid: L3.00
Remaining Funds: L3.00
Total Discount: L4.00


Stall #4: Aquarium Booth

Jaune could sense it. The turning of the tide. The reversal of fate. Lying and cheating, and a dose of Aura, saved the day. This festival was a contest between shopkeepers and customers, and it's time he fight like it. Resisting the urge to skip, Jaune happily hugged the fox as he set off in search of a souvenir for Melanie. He could have tried another game stall, but Melanie's only interest in the available prizes would be the scrolls.

Ha! Even in his high, Jaune scoffed at the mad dream of winning one of those.

Losing to the urge to skip, Jaune danced along, on the lookout for interesting sights.

Noodles, sportswear, financial planning (wait, why?), mechashift weaponry, fish, plastic figurines,-

Fish!

Or as Melanie calls them, fishies!

Melanie meticulously kept the three aquarium tanks in her room. Her pride and joy was a rectangular tank on a custom stand, with its own coral reef centerpiece. Two tall tower tanks, one for freshwater, the other for saltwater, flanked her bed. On multiple occasions, she roped Jaune into helping her move the tanks around to a space with 'better ambiance'.

He can't get her ambiance, but he may just be able to get a fishie or two.

Enter the large booth, a sign naming the business as "Professor Lilac's Little Aquarium", Jaune marveled at the sheer variety. They weren't big, most were tiny. What they lacked in size, they made up for in colors and features. One species sported long, filmy fins. Another quickly flitted about in schools, miniscule with only their bright pink scales glittering as they swam.

Jaune focused on one fish with a golden, almost glowing, hue. If someone told him it comprised of living gold, he would believe it.

"It's a very rare species, found only in deepest reaches of Vacuo, in certain underwater caves that feed the oases of the desert."

Jaune swiveled to the shop owner, presumably the Professor Lilac on the sign, awe in his voice. "Really?"

"Ha! No, just a joke of mine." Jaune glowered at the woman, who blithely went on. "It's actually mutated. Dust run-off from a SDC mine contaminated one of the little lakes in Atlas and this abomination was one of the result. Not actually rare as a species, and completely defective. See how one eye is bigger than the other?"

Honestly, that sounded way cooler than the Vacuo story. Jaune leaned closer, and spotted the differently-sized orbs. It really was quite obvious, now. A part of him wondered if he'll get superpowers if he let it bite him.

"All the least-deformed fish have been snapped up by collectors. Ugly ones like this, on the other hand, gets tossed back in the lake for anyone passing by to catch."

"Wouldn't Atlas have contained the area?"

In response, the woman winked and tapped the side of her nose. It appeared the Xiong family aren't the only criminals attending the festival.

"So, what can I get for you?" Jaune started pacing among the tanks again.

"I'm browsing for a fish, something cheap. How much was that golden one?"

"L10.00. I caught them by the barrel-full. "

How bad is the pollution in Atlas? Miltia might have a heart attack if he told her. Jaune continued to browse, hoping to see something cheaper. Haggling L10.00 down to below L3.00 didn't seem doable. He noted the fish with duller colors. They paled in comparison with the stuffed fox, but needs must. Drab hues in brown, gray, black…

Black scales, pitch-black, with a little white shell on its head.

"Is that a Grimm?"

It could only be a Grimm.

"That's not a Grimm." Jaune spun to stare at Lilac.

"Are you kidding me? The color, the bone plate, you brought a Grimm into Vale!"

"Nononono, who's the expert here? This fish, while reminiscent of a Grimm, has been studied and proven to be a cousin of the goldfish. Found in Atlas too so, you know, could be another mutant." Jaune squinted at her.

"That sounds like an excuse. Should I call a Huntsman here? They're the expert on Grimm."

"But not an expert on fish, which is what this is. Besides, it's half-price! 8 Lien and it could be your fish!"

Jaune dipped a finger into the bowl. The not-a-Grimm fish immediately charged, nibbling at said finger with the little nubs in its mouth.

"It's biting me! It's aggressive!"

"It's just hungry, like any regular fish. 6 Lien."

Oh? Morality of getting Melanie a possible-Grimm aside, that is approaching almost-affordable range. Perhaps, he'll push a little further, just to see how low it can go. He can always kill it later if it actually was a Grimm.

Although, having this thing as his first Grimm kill would shame him for life.

"Professor(?) Lilac. It's my duty as a Huntsman-in-training to call the authorities, and let them confiscate this fish to make sure it's not a Grimm." Jaune held a finger to his chin. He mused. "They might shut down the booth to inspect everything, too."

The supposed professor rapidly shook her head.

"No need for that, no need for that. You said you were a Huntsman-in-training? Well, who better to keep watch over it, than you? If it somehow turned out to be a Grimm, which it won't, you could take care of it! And, in case you happen to lose it, I'll add that golden fish to the deal, all for 4, no, 2 Lien!"

Threats were a viable way to get discounts, Jaune learned.

"Deal!"

It wasn't a Grimm, after all. Definitely not.

Melanie's Gift - Confirmed-not-a-Grimm fishie
Price: L16.00
Paid: L2.00
Remaining Funds: L1.00
Total Discount: L18.00 + extra fishie


Stall #5: ?

What can a man buy with 1 Lien? What can he negotiate for, with 1 Lien?

Not much. Not even a candy bar. The stall owners had a limit, and selling for 1 Lien seemed to offend their merchant souls.

Jaune wandered back and forth, his earlier high fading. He managed to the gather the souvenirs, he wore a Pumpkin Pete's-brand mask, he experienced two resounding successes. Tonight went pretty well, if he says so himself.

…Yet.

Yet, there remained the last challenge. Five stalls, 20 Lien. For a moment, he dreamt that the horizon could be reached. Jaune wanted it all, to make the night perfect. The last hour sapped away at his hopes.

He sighed.

*Pop!*

*Pop! Pop! Pop!*

*Popopopopopop!*

Alright, who's ruining his pity party?

"Please stop!"

Jaune's eyes sharpened. He pivoted in the direction of the voice. He spied a gathering crowd. A booth filled with shaped balloons. A group of laughing young men, six or seven in all. A skinny, middle-aged man, in tears.

*Pop!* Went another balloon as one of the teens stomped.

Jaune's feet pounded the stone path. Aura-boosted legs sent him above the small crowd. Landing between the gang and the vendor, Jaune loomed over the leader of the group, a dark-haired man with a muscular frame encased in a tight windbreaker jacket. An odd choice for the hottest week of the summer, a part of Jaune judged.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Someone's clearly not familiar with the Red Axe Gang.

Jaune ignored the question, and eyeballed the shorter teen.

"Why do this? Has he offended you and your friends?" A turn, and Jaune saw the stall owner shaking his head. The leader barked a laugh.

"It's the Midsummer Festival! We're just enjoying the night, having a good laugh!" His gang cheered, a few had bottles in their hands. "Until you came along. What's up with the teddy-bear, can't sleep without it?" One of his underlings made to reach for the stuffed fox clutched in Jaune's hand. The half-drunk teen missed and nearly stumble, as Jaune pulled the toy away.

"A present, actually, for a lovely lady." Jaune smirked. "If you want one, ask one of your boytoys."

A standard taunt, as far as it goes. To a belligerent drunk? A dire insult to his machismo.

A fist launched at Jaune's face. Brittle human fingers met a jaw lined with Aura. They snapped like twigs against an unmoving face. As the man whimpered and moaned, Jaune simply raised an eyebrow.

"Was that supposed to do something?" Thank Oum for Aura.

The man screamed for his gang to help. They checked out their foe, a couple hefting empty bottles as weapons. A pocketknife flicked out.

A stuffed toy in one hand, a fishbowl in the other. A stupid rabbit mask strapped to a blond head. A cold gaze meeting their glares. A scornful sneer. Wisps of strange, blue light radiating forth, occasionally pulsing in an oppressive wave. And their leader crying at his feet.

Hands hid bottles behind backs, a pocketknife deftly folded and slid back into a sleeve. The teens mumbled and rocked on their heels. They needed an out, and Jaune obliged.

"You've had enough to drink. Take this idiot and beat it. The Xiong Family does not appreciate this sort of 'fun'." A memory of Miltia's lectures prompted Jaune to add. "And those bottles better go into a recycle bin. I'll know."

Desperate nods met his orders. The gang scrambled to drag the dark-haired man away.

Out of Jaune's sight, they crashed into men wearing familiar black suits and red ties. Strong arms encircled their necks.

Jaune tucked the fox under an arm, and held out a hand to help the vendor stand. He found said hand trapped in a never-ending handshake, as the vendor profusely thank him for stepping in.

"Thank you! You said you were Xiong? From Junior's gang?"

"Yes. We weren't going to let anything like this stand in our neighborhood." That's right, Uncle Hei can't say he's not helping out now.

A few bystanders hastily made their exit upon hearing of the blond boy's criminal ties. Others craned their necks to admire the gangster. Jaune wondered if this was the reason for a Yakuza's flamboyance. To be feared, and to be loved, both were intoxicating.

"You were amazing! The way you didn't move an inch after that punch. If Junior has men like you patrolling then the protection fee was more than worth it! You said that toy was for your lady?"

Jaune nodded yes, not bothering to correct the man.

"How about a balloon fox, to go with the stuffed one?" Score!

"I, ah, I would love one." Wait. "Actually, can I have two? She has a sister."

"Oh ho ho, I think I know exactly who they are. Two foxes for your foxy ladies, coming right up."

Oh no no, he hoped no rumors get back to his teachers.

Walking away with his new prizes, Jaune had to admit that the man was skilled. The balloons carried a fair bit of details, with facial features painted on with quick hands. He pondered and doubled back. Jaune fished out the white Lien card and dropped it in the surprised man's hand.

"The balloons are pretty cool. I'd give more, but that was my last Lien." The man chuckled and waved Jaune away.

A glance to the stall's signage told Jaune that the balloons cost 2 Lien each.

Fox-shaped Balloons
Price: L4.00
Paid: L1.00
Remaining Funds: L0.00
Total Discount: L21.00 + extra fishie


Past Midnight

Two girls and a boy chatted under the night market's archway pillar. One girl hugged a stuffed fox wearing a red bow to her chest, a floating balloon tied to her left pinky. The other held her own balloon, but carried a small fishbowl in her hands. She occasionally dipped a finger into the water to let a small fish nibble at it. The boy had nothing in hand, but wore a festival mask depicting a rabbit. There used to be a small sea of shopping bags at their feet, but a phone call earlier had suited men whisking the bags away.

"I am impressed, Jaune!"

"Me too!"

Jaune nervously rubbed the back of his head.

"Awww thanks. That last one wasn't really haggling though." Melanie slapped his shoulder.

"Hey! There's no rules. You got something in hand, and a discount besides. It's a win." Miltia slapped his other shoulder.

"Two losses, and three victories! Good job!"

Jaune almost giggled in excitement. Their praises were all he wanted to hear.

Being reminded of his failures, however, Jaune's cheer faded slightly, and he hung his head.

"I'm sorry I failed the first two times."

Melanie and Miltia shared a glance, and burst out in laughter. Melanie recovered first to explain.

"We expected you to succeed maybe once, gopher."

"And get one or two Lien for a discount, at most." Jaune raised his head.

"What? You said to-" Miltia interrupted.

"This is Vale's Night Market, Jaune, on the street's biggest holiday of the year."

"There's, like, a boatload of competitors and a fuckton of customers."

"Everyone brought their A-game. We threw you to the sharks." Jaune tried to wrap his head around this revelation.

"But...you said L20 would be enough."

"For us, yeah. We've been hitting this place for years. But for you, my disciple?" Melanie smiled sweetly.

"It was a rigged game from the start."

"And the L400?"

"We wouldn't have liked it."

"But we would understand if you had used it." Miltia clapped her hand.

"But you didn't touch a single card!" Melanie giggled evilly.

"Did you want to impress us so much?" Jaune glances away guiltily, and the twins' mirth began anew. "Well, you did!"

Confidence surging, Jaune stood tall. He stood among equals.

"Just another night for Jaune Arc, Master Negotiator." He buffed his nails on his suit.

Melodious laughter stopped. Jaune looked to his teachers, to be met with quirked eyebrows.

"Don't get ahead of yourself now."

"It almost seemed like you implied you were on our level."

"Say it isn't so, Jaune." Instead, Jaune doubled down.

"I mean, i would have gotten the balloons for free! And overall, l received more than 50% off. L41's worth for L20!" Melanie scoffed.

"You took a punch for those balloons. Hardly free." Miltia indignantly took over.

"And half price is good, for a beginner. Don't get cocky, disciple."

"I would like to see you do better."

Silence reigned between the three. Even the nearby tourists felt the tension. A few eavesdroppers munched frantically on their snacks. Jaune dearly wished to run.

Twin voices rang out.

""Challenge accepted.""

Melanie then said to Miltia.

"Maybe, you could show him how a master does it?"

On her part, Miltia hummed as she considered the different booths.

"I'm feeling…cotton candy." With that, she passed her souvenirs to Jaune and skipped forth to the third stall past the archway. Jaune and Melanie ambled along a small distance behind her. The blonde fetched a notebook and pen from an inner pocket, making Melanie snicker in amusement.

Miltia's target was a young man twirling a stick in a spinning tub. In goes the stick, out comes a giant ball of fluffy sugary treat. The massive size of the cotton candy carried a hefty price tag. A sign with bright lettering advertised each stick costing only L7.00 . Not too bad. Just cut-throat, really.

Miltia made her way to the front of the short line, the cost likely driving most would-be customers away. She held her hands behind her back, and looking at the cotton candy machine with rapt attention. As the man turned to her, Miltia despondently rubbed her stomach as if in hunger. Her action drew the man's eyes (and Jaune's, honestly) to her exposed belly, she having worn a green halter top with low-cut jeans. The stall-owner spoke to her smooth tummy. His eyes never met hers. Or even went up to her chest. A gentlemanly pervert, he was.

"Would you like one, beautiful?" How could he even tell?

Miltia breathily sighed.

"I wanted one but…I didn't notice the sign until now." She pouted. "I'm sorry, but I don't have enough money."

She took a half-step back, other hand also moving over her stomach. Both arms together hid her midriff.

The stall-owner nearly dropped the candy stick in his shock. He called to Miltia in a panicked tone.

"Wait! Wait! Uh- becaaaaause you're my one hundredth customer! Yes!"

Miltia circled back, her smile like a rising sun in its brilliance. Her arms rose to clasp together in front of her chest.

"Really? What does it mean?"

"It means you can get a stick for half-" Her arms lowered. "-ahem, for free! Completely free, extra-large cotton candy!"

His arms plunged into the machine, whipping a candy stick round and round, and revealed a ball of cotton candy twice the size previously sold. Miltia excitedly clapped her hands, reached out, only to pull back at the last second.

"Oh. Oh no. My sister wouldn't have one, I don't want to make her cry. I'm sorry." She gazed through her eyelashes, slumping sadly.

Hands dove back into the machine, a stick scooped string after string of sugar. In a flash, an identical ball of cotton candy stood beside its twin. The young man resolutely stated.

"Completely. Free. Please!"

Miltia hopped twice, which did interesting things to her form.

"Thank you so much! You're so kind."

She snatched up the stick, sending a shy smile and a wave to the vendor. The young man, on his part, oozed against the counter as his leg gave way. He sighed dreamily.

The moment Miltia turned away, her shy smile became a sly smirk. She radiated smugness as she sauntered back to Jaune and Melanie.

Jaune stood slack-jawed as his teachers munched on their (free!) prizes. He then scribbled madly into his notebook, underlining 'sex appeal' three times.

Melanie tugged on his sleeve.

"Admit your defeat?"

He did, he could do nothing else. No fight occurred, no bad feelings, and everyone left happy, even the guy who just gave away free goods. Jaune had a ways to go.

Melanie continued on.

"Y'know, since you did so well, we're thinking of giving you another game for day two of the festival." Instantly, Jaune made his excuses.

"I need to help out Uncle Hei!" The lie was weak, and the twins knew it. Miltia giggled.

"You'll like it, we promise. You know the L400 we gave you?" Jaune nodded. "Well, your task tomorrow is to spend it all."

"You're treating us, too. Remember that!"

Now this, this he won't complain against.

As the three walked back home, they discussed the different stalls they want to visit. Melanie and Miltia took pity on Jaune's growling stomach, letting him have one of the cotton candy stick while they shared the other.

"Ooh! I'll show you this booth that sells pet fishies! The owner, Lilac, comes around every year, and has some rare ones for dirt cheap! You got two fishies for two Lien from your seller? Not bad, not bad. I'll match Miltia and get it for free! The student won't surpass the master yet."

Uh oh.

Jaune desperately prepared his excuses for the day to come.

A bit of fear is healthy
It keeps the stupid ones alive
You're not threatening them
You're helping, honest
-M&M's Yakuza lesson #09, to a nervous Jaune Arc


Author's notes: A snippet turned into this.

Melanie and Miltia have friends other than Jaune? They don't just lounge at the bar all day, waiting for him?

Day 2 of the Midsummer festival may get a chapter, someday. It won't be School Days, impossible to be Beacon Days, but Vacation Days might be too boring to write. All Fluff, no drama or action? Bleh. Hmmm, a showcase of lessons from Uncle Hei, perhaps. The man did pass on a few tips before Beacon, after all. Just don't expect too much, the Xiong Allure behave strangely in the hands of Jaune Arc.

One-sided negotiations can be encountered sometimes in outdoor markets, especially ones for tourists. The seller start at a ridiculous price and, by themselves, drag the price down to less than half! It's an absolute steal, you've got to buy! The fast-talking, high pressure pitch can convince someone to pay what is actually a very good markup for the seller.