Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth. I own nothing.
Chapter 14. Beacon Days 06
Beacon Hallway, one of many
'Mind how you walk, there's always a bigger fish.'
No matter their power and influence, every student navigating the ever-changing hierarchy of the Academy must always keep in mind that old advice. The fact held as true in the hallways of Beacon as anywhere else. The school fostered a culture of warriors, a culture where egos clashed and tested themselves against each other to establish dominance. A feat of strength will garner praises and respect, and many strove to prove their might. Legends appeared and fade away in mere days, up-and-comers sprung forth only to burn out, and hidden tigers lurked among the masses. A dangerous place, indeed, especially with this year's incoming class.
Or, to put it less eloquently, some no-name upper-year bumped into Pyrrha 'Invincible Girl' Nikos, knocking all of his partner's books to the floor. Now, Jaune watched on as the two women locked gaze.
The daily team training hammered home the fact that his partner eclipsed most of the first-years, and many of the older students, too. She won four regional tournaments in Mistral, which was supposed to be a big deal from what Weiss told him. The strongest of each year, such as Yang or Blake, may stand a chance in a fight with Pyrrha. The likes of Jaune, however, could not hope to match her in a fair fight and most nameless mooks stayed out of her way. Looking at Pyrrha's challenger, Jaune wagered that she fell on the weaker side of Beacon. In fact, the brunette seemed ready to bolt away.
Jaune grinned at the way the girl shook like a leaf. He has seen her like, he was one at times. Wannabe-toughs who acted without thinking and regretted their choices. As much as he will cheer for Pyrrha's performance, a part of him wondered if this girl can get herself out of this predicament.
A glance at Pyrrha stopped his heart. The tremble of her lips, the fidgeting of her hands. She showed that face often, always followed by uttering two words. Two words that would bring ruin, and so Jaune hissed at her under his breath.
"Pyrrha, don't do it."
She gave no indication that she heard. Her stance shifted, anxious hands gripping her skirt. Her lips parted to speak. Nonono. PYRRHA, NO!
"I'm sorry!" / "I'm sorry!"
Jaune slapped his own face, as Pyrrha bowed to her opponent. Had she waited for just a beat, she would have emerged victorious in this encounter. The rabbit girl, unable to withstand the pressure Pyrrha exuded, caved like any common thug and bowed down in apology. She never possessed any secret plan to overcome his partner, it was all an act. Except, her act made Pyrrha show weakness. Jaune blamed her proper upbringing, and Mistral, for creating someone so well-mannered that it bordered on meekness. His partner would apologize at the drop of a hat. And has apologized to a dropped hat, last week. Manners may be what holds society together, but in this jungle, being nice was an opening and aggressiveness was a shield. Jaune needed to do something before everyone and their mother decide they can pick on Pyrrha.
A sidle put him in front of his partner. Jaune advanced on the brunette, the girl backing up in a panic until she hit the wall. He slammed his hand above her head, bringing his face close, and hours of practice with the twins paid off as the girl gasped in shock. A powerful intimidation move, although Miltia would have stabbed the wide-open belly on anyone who actually tried that. It worked like a charm on a small fry like this. He bent down to speak into her ear, affecting a silky lilt to his words.
"You're pretty brave, to attack my partner like that." The girl whimpered, turning red.
"It was an accident, s-sir, I swear. I didn't notice her!"
"Really?" Jaune turned back to his partner, who appeared ready to say another 'I'm sorry'. "I want to believe her, Pyrrha, but your hair truly is one-of-a-kind. Flame-red locks, graceful ponytail, it's very eye-catching. So I think, that this girl meant to disrespect you."
There it was, the magic word. Pyrrha may be a new student to the Yakuza Way, but she understood the concept of respect as well as Melanie did. Sweeping her gaze over the crowd, Pyrrha took note of the mocking smirks and appraising glances. Some were directed at the upper-year Faunus, some at Jaune, and some at her. As if they were looking at prey. Her eyes sharpened, anger overtaking her meekness at the ramifications of this encounter. She walked forward with purposeful strides and slammed a hand of her own over the rabbit girl's head, eliciting another gasp.
"I apologize, Jaune. I did not realize my reputation was so poor that anyone on the street would challenge us. I'll make sure it does not happen again." Her other hand brushed against her blazer, revealing the handle of Milo (badly-)hidden underneath. An effective power move, although Jaune noticed that she said sorry again. They can work on that next time. On the rabbit girl's part, she shrank down and tried to make her excuses.
"I'm sorry! I wasn't- your hair is really great, it must be my mistake. The hallway was crowded, and I should've looked at where I'm going, and…and…"
Her eyes darted this way and that, but the crowd seemed content to spectate. Not surprising, considering the books and papers on the ground presented proof of her crime. Another contender who punched above their weight, only to cower as the tables turned. Jaune's efforts over the last weeks were not in vain, either, as not many wanted to stand against Team JNPR at the moment, with Pyrrha's and his own reputation. They remembered Cardin's punishment at the hands of Goodwitch, and saw the depths his team would sink to for vengeance. Jaune Arc has established his bona fides. Only the brave and the foolhardy, like this girl, dared to challenge them.
"That's great, but it doesn't make up for what you did, did it? My friend has been hurt, her property destroyed. Don't you think you owe her something a little more…substantial?"
His teachers advocated a display of violence to deter other thugs from getting ideas. The lesson for Pyrrha on appropriate force was a work in progress, though, and the way she caressed the trigger of her weapon worried him. Such rapid escalations had a tendency to go wrong in gang altercations. They haven't seen this girl's team and their capabilities, so the best course would be to take a step back to first gather information. This incident allowed him a good opportunity to showcase for Pyrrha other methods of saving face that deescalates conflict.
The rabbit girl scrunched her face in thought, the cuteness an obvious ploy to garner sympathy. Jaune stayed strong, a summer with the twins hardening his resistance against such attacks.
"I, well, I don't have much of worth. I'm so sorry!" She apologizes almost as much as Pyrrha does, Jaune thought as the girl stammered on. "I can try to borrow some Lien or, -oh! I can bake some cookies, if you like?" Jaune rolled his eyes. He can get sweets for his team by the crate-
"That's fine! I look forward to it!"
-or a batch of cookies may work as a token offering. Jaune raised an eyebrow at his partner, who whispered in response.
"What? I don't need money." Bringing their faces close, Jaune murmured.
"She's not losing enough, and we want to teach her a lesson. It doesn't cost her much to bake. "
"I put a lot of effort into my cookies, hours and hours, with decorations and everything. They're really good, I promise!" Jaune glanced at the girl's rabbit ears, as they flicked and twitched right next to Pyrrha's and his mouths. Right, Faunus hearing.
Rapping a beat on the walls, Jaune sighed. This might be the best outcome he could hope for, considering it was Pyrrha's first time facing down a rival. A definite victory in her favor, with some compensation for her troubles. The weak punishment served poorly as deterrence for future challengers, but he can cover for that lapse. Nora's comments on leg-breaking held some promise to bolster the team's reputation, if they can find a chance to put that claim into practice. That should protect Pyrrha's image by proxy. Pushing off the wall, Jaune placed his hands on his hips.
"You're okay with this?"
"Yes, Jaune. So long as we get no more trouble. And we won't, right?" The rabbit girl rapidly nodded upon hearing Pyrrha's change in tone, and Jaune smirked. There's the edge to her mercy.
"We'll be waiting for your apology, uh, whatever your name is." The girl wriggled a foot back and forth.
"It's Velvet. Velvet Scarlatina."
"Velvet, then. I'll remember that" Maybe. His track record on names said otherwise. "Next time, mind how you walk."
Pyrrha waved at the girl, as if Velvet hadn't tried to undermine her position. Jaune made another mental note to host a lesson on pithy parting words, when they get the chance.
As Velvet scampered off, Jaune and Pyrrha gathered the scattered belongings. He made sure the spectators have moved on, before voicing the thought nagging him for the past minute.
"You were quite eager back there." Pyrrha blushed.
"Hehe. I enjoy homemade sweets. The tournament circuit didn't give much time for my parents to bake, and I'm sick of store brands."
"I don't know, Pyrrha. A parent's cooking is one thing, but how much better than a shop can a random girl's cookies be?"
Juniper Berries, Beacon's official school store
*Beep*
"That will be L60. Would you like a bag for those?"
As Team RWBY's leader zoomed away with her bounty (leaving a mess in her wake for him to clean), Lie Ren sighed and picked up the last packet from the box next to the counter. He flipped it around to see the front.
When the store opened, his teammates placed bets on which items would be the most popular. They expected the students to flock towards coffee machines, or the meals and sweets delivered from Vale. Although he refrained from the actual gambling, even Ren ventured a guess that lazy students would buy up the classroom supplies corner to save a trip to Vale. Yet in the first two days of their grand opening, it was a poorly-wrapped paper bag containing three cookies that became their flagship product. Staring at the label, the only part of the package that seemed professionally-made, he wondered once again if it was the taste or the marketing that made these cookies fly off the shelves.
The top of the label stated the bag's content to be Velvet's Chocolate Chip Cookies, a name of no particular imagination. Cookies made by someone named Velvet. How droll.
The tagline followed underneath, proclaiming that the cookies were 'Lovingly Handmade by Bunnygirls from Beacon'. A picture of a brunette with rabbit ears laying on a huge cookie completed the label. To his shame, Ren had hooted with laughter upon first seeing the label, which almost caused the designer and seller of the bags of cookies to cry. In his defense, it was a laugh of shock and nostalgia at seeing a product straight out of Mistral. Leave it to the Yakuza to import the sleazier side of their home to Vale.
Ren believed at least fifteen of the twenty-Lien price tag came from the tagline. A part of him was tempted to try the cookies, if only to prove that these snacks were overpriced.
"That'd be L20!"
"Ahhhh!" The packet flew away down an aisle, as Ren whirled his arms to keep balance on the stool. He turned around to face Nora, standing with hands on her hips.
"C'mon Ren, Boss Jaune won't be happy if he sees you touching Velvet's goodies with a smile on your face. You have to pay first." Despite her happy expression, Ren sensed a darkness behind her words. This called for a deflection.
"I simply wanted to try out the cookies inside, I'll put it back. Can you check on the maple syrup?"
The sound of fighting reached his ears, letting him know he need not bother standing up. A few customers have noticed the bag and made their bid for it. Soon enough, the triumphant victor dragged herself to the counter to pay, and left with her prize. The bodies left behind groaned and moaned as they regained consciousness, retreating in ones and twos with a last forlorn look to the empty box.
In the lull that followed, he looked for anything to distract himself from Nora partaking from the cask of maple syrup, for the sake of plausible deniability. If their leader ask what happened, he can protect Nora by claiming he was preoccupied and saw nothing. It sickened him, that he learned anything from that man. Jaune Arc loved imparting lessons from the monsters that taught him, and despite himself, Ren found moments where putting those lessons into practice led to beneficial outcomes. Using the lessons against the man was his little spark of defiance, and a form of redemption for the things he has done. Ren swept his eyes along the store, noting the items that required restocking.
The room they've commandeered was not large, by any means. A long counter along the wall held the coffee machines and various sugars, creams, and flavorings. Even though they only open for an hour in the morning, and two hours in the evening, the Beacon population managed to annihilate the supplies for that side of the room every day so far. The two aisles hosting more mundane items like daily necessities and chips fared better. The students won't need to replenish their stashes so early in the week. Of the cake slices and ready-made meals, five or six containers of each remained on the display case in the center of the store. Their prices kept many students from enjoying such luxuries, though being an employee came with the perk of 'calling dibs' on a free Mistralian lunchbox. It made this job bearable.
Nora smashed the cask on the floor, vibrating from a sugar rush.
Almost bearable.
Ren spun around to lean his back on the counter, facing the mirror that spanned the entire back wall. In his reflection, he saw the bags under his eyes, the store hours wreaking havoc on his beauty rest. On his sleeves, he spied a few splatters of blood, a result of the dinner rush. They needed more workers and a security team, for his sanity if nothing else. The budget didn't allow for it, however, despite the amount of sales they make. Profits were barely there.
You could have the money, if the real business takes off.
Gritting his teeth, Ren willed his eyes to stay away from the room's left corner. Such thoughts have floated in his mind throughout the day, promising long hours of sleep and the return of his skin's luster. More than that, they conjured images of quality Dust, weapon upgrades, and as much food as he and Nora can eat. Better days, they promised, so long as he kept his silence.
*~Din~Don~Dan~*
The jingle, the damn jingle that signaled another customer. He can see the boy approaching in the mirror. Sky Lark walked like a new man this past week, with confident strides replacing his nervous shuffle. He sported a bruise on one cheek, and bandages peeking from under his shirt. Ren watched his arrival with a wary eye, not knowing where JNPR and CRDL stood after the previous hostilities.
"Ren, been a while. You, ah, you look…not good?" That sounded like fighting words, and Ren contemplated saying the same to the boy. Customer courtesy stayed his scathing retort.
"Are you buying something?"
"Not today, dude." Sky leaned over the counter. "I was hoping to go stargazing."
That word dashed any good cheer left in his heart, and drew his eyes to the door in the corner he tried so hard to ignore. Had the store been the sole enterprise, Ren would not feel so conflicted. But Jaune Arc had to be Jaune Arc, and corrupt all that he touched. Every day, Ren teetered on the brink of evil.
But Jaune showed honor, don't you remember?
"You do know what you're asking? It's not exactly legal around here."
"Whoa, hey, quiet down. What do you think we have a password for? Saying things like that in public might summon a witch, you know."
One could hope.
With a sigh, Ren beckoned for Sky to follow. He stopped before the door, taking one last look at Sky who was vibrating in excitement at the same frequency as Nora. With a hard pull, the door revealed… a closet. Hiding a smirk, Ren ushered the disappointed boy inside before closing the door. Then, he placed his hand on a subtle groove in the wall, and slid the hidden panel open.
The large mirror outside did more than make the main store seem grander. It provided an optical illusion, fooling the casual observer from the fact that the dimensions of the store failed to correspond to the blueprints. In the area between was a shelf carrying the real Lien-earners of Juniper Berries, an L-shape bar, and a narrow strip of space barely enough for people to squeeze through. Instead of stools, a bar rail rain along the bar wall, allowing guests to rest a foot as they lean against the counter. A little window high on the wall did, indeed, allow one to see the stars if they craned their necks.
Behind the bar, Jaune Arc smiled at his guests, his hands wiping down a glass. Ren scoffed at the sight. There hadn't been a customer for this side, so the glasses should be pristine. This bartender act was just for effects.
"Sky, welcome. Thanks for showing him in, Ren. How's the store?" Ren snapped to attention, obscuring his distaste at the illegal speakeasy.
"It was as violent as yesterday. We can restock everything by morning, except for those sketchy cookies of yours." Jaune smiled at the news.
"Good, demand's going strong, then. And I'll contact my supplier on another batch, so gather her share of the sales for me." Jaune pulled three cans of beer from a cooler under the counter. "For now, though, take a break. You've more than earned it."
Ren left the can unopened as he leaned against the bar. Further down, Sky gulped his beer with relish. On his part, Jaune nursed his drink as he observed Sky's injuries and made small talk. How odd, that the two seemed almost friendly.
"The bruise is new."
"Yeah, another fight today. Those guys are a bit too stubborn."
"Ren and I can help even the numbers." Don't volunteer me, bastard. Heedless of Ren's thought, Jaune tapped his chin. "Or we can send in Pyrrha."
"Nope, that's just overkill." Sky chuckled, and took another sip from his can. "They're my team, my family. My responsibility. I'll bring them to heel, Boss."
The last piece of the puzzle fell into place. The mercy Jaune showed in their match, the cordial way they spoke, the silence of Team CRDL. The last word Sky said.
Boss.
Ren gasped as his heart felt an icy grip. The bar was nothing, a red herring for anyone prying into Jaune Arc's motives. His goal was not money, no. He wanted the Huntsmen and Huntresses of Beacon. Sky fell under his thrall, and CRDL might soon meet the same fate. The supplier, Velvet. Was she another component to this plan, too? She must be. The endorsement, the picture, the fans clamoring for her product. Some sort of attempt to create an idol to draw in the masses?
A finger pulled on the can's tab, and Ren chugged back the beer. The cold liquid did wonders to cool down his panic. He slammed the empty can on the counter, and contemplated his next move.
Reporting to Opzin never worked. The man demanded actionable intelligence, but sat on the information. Ren's fears of falling in too far to his role left him in the periphery of the Yakuza, never fully trusted and unable to affect the outcome of Jaune's various schemes. His playing by the rules allowed his leader to run roughshod over the campus. Continuing on this path will end with Beacon falling, Ren was sure. Loathe as he to admit it, saving Beacon required bolder actions.
The two criminal's conversation broke Ren from his reverie.
"-really can't stand a suit and tie. I've worked in convenience stores though."
"Hm. In that case, you can help on the main floor, which frees up Ren to handle this room." Ren quirked an eyebrow.
"Volunteering me again? I don't feel comfortable-" Wait. Perhaps he could start his counterattack here, by gaining Jaune Arc's trust and taking a position in his inner circle. But the risk of implicating himself to the faculty…
*Crash* "MY BAD RENNY! I'll clean that up." Nora's shout pierced even through the thick wall, followed by Ruby's screech.
"What do you mean you ran out!? I haven't had enough yet!"
Standing on the line between good and evil, Ren considered his choices. The peace of this room, or the chaos beyond the wall. Blessed rest or endlessly mopping after Nora's sugar rush.
With a sob, Ren took a step to the other side.
Author's Notes: Team JNPR has foiled Velvet Scarlatina's gambit! …Of course it was a power play by Velvet. What do you mean, she's a cinnamon roll? Jaune very much regretted jumping the gun that day.
On another note, there's a Lancaster week and Dragonslayer week, but does anyone know if there is a Knightshade week coming up and the dates for it? For…reasons.
