Merry Xmas. Have a second chapter.
A Dustmas in Vacuo
2nd Half
The next day, resort beach
This was it, the day before Dustmas. The very last chance for a person to prove that they belonged on the Noice list. It was also the moment of reckoning for many, where they realized they had less than 24 hours left to come up with gifts for the people in their lives and ran out to the mall in a panic. Heh, good luck with that to the people in Vale when the blizzard there showed no sign of abating.
None of that had any real bearing on Jaune, of course. Greater concerns occupied his thoughts. Planning the perfect scene to ask out two girls, for example, or figuring out the words that would guarantee his success, or even daydreaming about Melanie and Miltia in their swimsuits, or...
It's been nothing but that third one for a while now, frankly. Setting up their spot on the beach with umbrellas, lounge chairs, etc. took all of two minutes, and left plenty of time for anticipation to grow as he awaited the twins' arrival.
He knew the gist of how the swimsuits appeared, at least on the mannequins, since he served as a bag carrier for them on that particular summer day. Black one-pieces, the cutouts in select places formed tantalizing images designed to suggest rather than show. Very tasteful, very mature. It should complement their hair nicely.
Yeah, their hair. He wasn't looking forward to anything else. Honest.
Lost in reverie, he did not notice their presence until he was alerted by a tap on his shoulder. He tilted back his head to look up at the twins' faces. Miltia waved.
"Hey, Jaune. Hope we didn't keep you waiting."
"You weren't bored, were you?"
"Not at all. It's nice to just sit back and daydream for a bit."
Hopping to his feet, he turned around to get a better view of their swimsuit-clad figures— ah, no, to greet them properly. His mouth opened to speak, then closed without a word. After a long pause, it opened to try again. A mere "Huh…" managed to slip out.
It was different from what he expected. Different, but in a good way, he decided after his brain rebooted. Perhaps this was the Vacuan fashion, or the heat had spurred them on. Either way, their current ensembles lacked the sophisticated design of the swimsuits they bought in Vale, going for a simpler style.
It also lacked quite a bit more fabric, too. A boy's brain has to notice these kinds of detail, it could be important.
Instead of black one-pieces, they opted for colorful bikinis. Melanie chose one in her preferred white, with the bottom tied on the sides in careless knots and the top tied to make a ribbon over one shoulder. Miltia's bikini was in red, of course, and decorated with frills and bows. Lace cuffs adorned the wrist on their right hands, and they've also kept their favorite hair accessories; Melanie's flower-pin added an air of innocence to her brash smirk, while Miltia's feathers lent a touch of chic to enhance her cutesy style of wear.
Altogether, the duo exuded a youthful, lively charm rather than elegant sex appeal. It worked well for them, the outfits matching their natural dispositions.
Energetic. Free. Ever flitting to and fro.
Melanie, hands on her hips, turned this way and that to showcase her bikini.
"Soooo? Like it?"
Next to her, Miltia struck a pose, arching her back and holding her arms above her head.
"How do we look?"
"You, uh, the swimsuits look-" He bit down on what he was about say. Complimenting just the clothes was a cop-out move. He steadied his nerves, and forced himself to meet their gaze. "Mel, Mil, you two are stunning! Very cute, gorgeous even, and you give off this 'tropical island girls' vibe that I really like. Sprightly, lovely, you could be on a postcard. Or the cover of a magazine." Yeah, he wasn't sure what he was talking about at this point, either. "Oum, you look pretty! Like, wow!"
Rambling or not, honest words had the desired effect. Melanie and Miltia bloomed like flowers in sunlight as they basked in praises.
"You really like it that much?"
"I told you, Mil, I said this was a good idea!"
Unable to contain their good spirit, they bounced on the balls of their feet and pumped their fists in victory.
He tried to resist. Oh, how he tried. Were these their everyday outfits, he might have stood a chance. A particularly exuberant hop placed their chests at his eye level, and his gaze followed them on the way down, lingering overlong. He looked up to smug grins.
"Oooooh," Melanie cooed, "now we know for sure you like what you see." *Smirk, smirk*
"That can't be enough of a view for you, right? It must be so hard having to play the gentleman." *Smirk, smirk*
Jaune sputtered, "It was unintentional, I swear! I know what you do to people who stares too much."
"Hehehe. We've taught you well, gopher."
"Still, you shouldn't worry so much."
"You're no saint, but you're better than other people on this beach."
A quick glance around proved the truth of what Melanie said. A few individuals tried to subtle. Most leered without any shred of shame. Already, boys who wanted to try their luck were coming out of the woodworks, shoulders squared and chin raised high in feigned (or delusional, Jaune thought darkly) confidence as they charted a course to the two beauties.
Not all of the gawkers were single, either. Jaune's sympathies went out to their girlfriends, who appeared ready to blow their top. (Metaphorically speaking, except one that did shift her literal top in a bid to recapture her boyfriend's interest.)
"Peh! Keep them off our backs, will you? Or, rather..." Melanie's expression turned sly. "Watch our backs, Jaune."
Miltia nodded in agreement with her sister. Giving an exaggerated wink, she wiggled her hips, daring him to take a peek.
"We don't mind if it's you, you know?"
So they said, as if they haven't made the same sort of joke any number of times in the past. Jaune chuckled and rolled his eyes, ignoring the pangs of desire that wished for the offer to be true. He then faltered when they did not answer with the expected signs.
It had sounded like the usual style of banter between the three of them, laced with flirtatiousness and innuendos. The laugh they would share afterwards was how they knew it was all a game. There might also be a scoff or a nudge with an elbow, some outward display of their mirth. Instead...
Half-lidded gazes pinned him in place. Softly batting their eyelashes, Melanie played with her hair while Miltia fidgeted with her wrist cuff. Slight smiles graced their lips.
"Hey, Jaune? It's a bit hot~" Melanie's whisper sent shivers up his spine. "Wanna go for a swim with us?"
He mutely nodded, head turning as she walked past him. A flick of her hair made him keenly aware that she wore a new perfume. His attempt to place the flowery scent stuttered when Miltia brushed by, a hand tracing across his chest. She looked back over her shoulder, beckoning with finger.
A shuddering gasp returned air to his lungs, and his heart leapt. He could not possibly have interpreted those signals wrong, can he?
Their behavior went beyond anything Melanie and Miltia have ever done. It was, to him, a hint clear as day that they wanted as much as he did for something to change between the three of them. Today, today, a voice in his mind screamed; his success has never been surer. A rush of excitement spurred him on and he set off after the twins, eager to discover where this new dynamic leads.
...He tried, just a bit, not to let his gaze drift but it was a futile endeavor in the end. Not a soul, self-proclaimed gentleman or otherwise, could remain unmoved by such temptation.
Weeell, they did say it was fine.
They also caught him again, when he looked back up.
-o-
Jaune walked along the beach, close to the water line where the sand held flat and firm. In one hand, he carried a tray; his training in service ensured that it glided along without so much as a tremble. Perched on top were two cocktails (served in glasses that appeared more like tropical fruit bowls with the sheer amount of garnishes they bore), three shot glasses filled with harder liquor, an expresso martini (that he insisted to the bartender was not meant for himself), and a plate of curly fries.
How familiar this scene was for Jaune. It brought to mind the early days where he was blinded by hero worship, and would attend to Melanie's and Miltia's whims at all hours of the day in the belief that it was 'training'.
Not that he ever stopped doing so, of course. He just knew better than to fall for the excuses nowadays.
Still, in his time under the twins' tutelage, he'd learned to stand his ground; to snark and push back and tease. He would argue against unreasonable orders, and made them plead and cajole for, at the very least, a full minute to gain his cooperation. By the end of the summer, he had fully secured his rights as a person and not just a glorified mook. The story was a riveting journey of boy to man, one worthy of cinema.
With but a gesture, he had reverted back to those days, performing his gopher duties with barely a peep. The game has moved to a new stage, the established strategies overthrown. This was a world where words and expressions he had never faced have become commonplace. Pouts to melt his heart, sultry poses able to tempt a saint let alone a Jaune, and the soft tone of voice as they crooned his name; their power grew tenfold in the blink of an eye, bolstered by his giddy optimism that they were serious about it all. Caught unprepared, he possessed zero immunity to this development.
Awful, just awful, thought Jaune with a beaming smile that won't go away.
Sue him, he liked the attention. Over the moon about it, in fact.
Besides, he did not have a counter against their manipulations for now. Jaune's tactics concerning his many battles, whether physical or psychological, against the Malachites centered on his staying power. He would weather blow after blow (and humiliation after humiliation) for the chance to analyze their repertoire, then improve his technique until he could handle them both at once. Let the two girls continue their antics. Someday, it shall be him who makes the twins blush red as a tomato, while asking favors he didn't actually need because he wanted them to pamper him.
That he will get to enjoy their flirting until then need not be said.
With such happy thoughts, he drew near to their camp, where those daydreams promptly grounded to a halt. His smile wilted, overtaken by a frown.
Melanie and Miltia were laying back on the lounge chairs, as they did when he left for the tiki bar. Their bored faces were buried in their scrolls, a new situation which would have been worrying were it directed at himself. That they were not alone concerned him most.
A large group of boys had congregated around the camp, the members imitating model poses with winsome grins on display. Undeterred by the apparent indifference, they elbow-jockeyed to gain the best position with which to catch the sisters' interest. Little by little the bolder ones (the soon-to-be dead ones!) closed the distance, the rest (the next on the chopping block!) taking the opportunity to follow suit. Dozens of compliments and pick-up lines flew through the air, creating a confused cacophony that hindered each other more than it helped any of them. Unheeding, Melanie and Miltia tapped away on their devices through the din.
Which begged the question: how come nobody's crying yet?
Suspicious. Super suspicious. Jaune reined in his jealousy for a moment to take in the scene with a clear(-ish) mind.
Against this level of persistence, passivity was atypical behavior for the combative duo. Disinterest may be their first go-to, but they possessed a slew of options to rebuff unwanted advances. Sharp of tongue, they could have dismissed those boys through judicious use of scathing remarks, having on a regular basis sent many a suitor at The Club or out in Vale running off in tears. There was also outright violence, which was always on the table for the two bouncers. Barring that… Ah. Ahaha.
He got his confirmation when Melanie and Miltia spotted his approaching form.
"Jaune!"
"You're back!"
Closing their scrolls with a snap, they went from barely responsive to animated happiness in a split second. They waved, they laughed, they gave him all the attention those boys had wanted from the two of them. By all intent, they appeared oblivious to the thickening air of hostility outside their bubble of good cheer.
More than a dozen pair of eyes pierced Jaune with their glares. United in the face of a common enemy, the men in the vicinity puffed up like peacocks, sizing him up... and about half seemed ready to surrender right then and there.
Hehehe. How adorable. Trying to outdo a Huntsman-in-Training in terms of physique was a fool's game.
These guys must have annoyed his teachers something fierce for them to use this method. Rarely would they push Jaune forward to deal with other boys; they enjoyed the chance to go wild and fight, after all. Often, it was only when the twins didn't want to just shoo guys off, but to see them slinking home in humiliation.
Never had Jaune been so keen to play along. He might have felt sympathy for his fellow man's plight (namely, their lack of female company), had they not bided time until he was away to pull this stunt. Seriously, these absolute dodos tried to cut in on his date. Have they no shame?
Could he call this a date? He'll call it a date.
The encirclement of the camp had become a defensive wall to box him out by the time he reached the perimeter. With their backs facing him, the boys shared conspiratorial chuckles and braced their stances.
Jaune judged it a fairly good use of their numbers. If he read them right, the next play to assert dominance would involve a façade of nonchalance as they ignore his request for passage. The intention was for him to beg permission or meekly circle around. It would make him look so helpless in the Malachites' eyes. His confidence might well shatter to pieces under such a harsh blow.
Heh.
Metal tray raised high, he wore a polite smile as he walked, never pausing, into their midst. They shoved back, expecting him to stumble, and blanched when instead their feet scraped lines on the sand. Mocking laughter turned to consternation.
He played the part of the unstoppable object, while the wall form by the other boys proved quite moveable, indeed. The group pooled together to combine their strength. He just walked.
Past them, he saw Melanie giving him a thumbs-up. Miltia giggled behind her hands. They were enjoying this, those sly foxes.
One boy gave up the pretense of civility, throwing a punch. It met a jaw clad in Aura, glowing faintly blue, leaving the now-whimpering boy to cradle his hand as he bowed out of the contest. The observant among the group noticed the flash of Aura, and abandoned the thought of attacking Jaune head-on. For those still unaware, him hitting someone's fist with his face a second time drove home the lesson. That show of intimidation earned Jaune a round of soft applause from his lovely audience.
Dangerous. Their attention's too dangerous. It made him want to act out. He had better learn quick or there'd be trouble in the days ahead. At this particular moment, however, he did nothing to quell that impulse. The meddling band of boys stood between him and the twins, a situation he found disagreeable.
Of the contenders left, a boy with rust-colored hair set off his alarms. His build suggested a civilian, his stance non-threatening, but the faint smirk he tried to hide told of a plan. It took on the appearance of something friendlier as he moved to the side to make way for Jaune. Both of his hands rose up, aiming for the drinks on the tray.
"Let me carry some of that for you."
Jaune raised an eyebrow at the bold gambit. Recognizing the probable winner of the contest, the boy had chosen to work with Jaune, whether Jaune wanted him to or not. The opening act included an immediate dagger descending towards Jaune's back, which he thought was an inspired move. In a bid to steal the thunder, the rust-haired teen intended to snatch away the beverages and present them first to Melanie and Miltia. The ploy was guaranteed to evoke some kind of a response from the duo, even if it would be negative, which a smooth talker could twist into a conversation so as to impose himself within their space. A crafty turncoat, self-interested and decisive, this boy had the makings of a future traitorous lieutenant.
A sharp hip check put an end to that. Like hell Jaune would allow another damn Nash anywhere close to his teachers.
Passing unimpeded from there, Jaune arrived in front of the twins; on his face, an overproud smirk. He performed a smooth bow, offering the tray for their perusal. Miltia plucked a cocktail glass while saying her thanks. Her sister helped herself one of the shot glasses.
As he placed the rest on the lid of their cooler, he met eye-to-eye with Melanie. With the hand holding her drink, she pointed her index finger at the dispersed entourage and mouthed a soundless 'nice job'. After, her gaze acquired a mischievous light.
Melanie knocked back the contents of her shot glass before setting it down on the tray. She turned around on the chaise lounge, and pulled her long tresses over a shoulder.
"Jaaaune~, I think I might need more sunscreen. Can you help rub it on my back?"
Bitter howls of jealousy drowned out Jaune's response. Sending the poor dodos (mateless and soon to disappear as they were) a look of smug superiority, he opened his mouth to deliver the coup de grace. Miltia got there first. In typical fashion, she added oil to the fire.
"Do my legs too, please~" She lifted one for emphasis.
What else could he say, but an enthusiastic yes? Jaune reached for the bottle of sunscreen.
I love the sound of grown men crying in the morning. Sounds like…victory.
Resort beach, open-air restaurant
One chew. Two chews. Three chews. Jaune put down his chopsticks, frowning.
"This sushi tastes weird."
Immediately, Melanie and Miltia stopped eating midbite and pushed back their plates. Wielded by practiced hands, Melanie's chopsticks picked apart a salmon roll for traces of tainted ingredients while Miltia eyed the innocuous pieces of fish and rice with suspicion. Food poisoning was no joke, doubly so when it came to raw seafood.
"Which sushi caused you to say that?" Miltia tried to compare their orders. Jaune pointed to a morsel on his plate.
"The Valean Roll. It's the crab inside. There's a...a smell to it that's different from how it should be. Taste and texture is off, too." Melanie leaned closer.
"It looks alright to me." She hesitated, but mustered her resolve to pluck a piece from the plate and popped it into her mouth. Jaune commented as she chewed thoughtfully.
"Strange, right? It's softer and there's a sweetness to the meat. I faintly recall eating something like it before, but not in a Valean Roll -Ow!"
He jolted, more from shock than any feeling of pain, and rubbed his nose. Melanie had reversed her grip on the chopsticks and poked him with the top ends.
"What gives, Mel?" She swallowed the sushi.
"The taste is different because this is real crabmeat. You had some yesterday, you know? There's nothing wrong with it."
Incredulous, Jaune tried another piece for himself. He ruminated on it, comparing the taste to what he remembered of the meal yesterday, and came to the conclusion that she was right. Which was impossible. If this was authentic crabmeat, and it tasted unlike any sushi he had ever eaten back home, then...
Realization dawned for him. At the same time, Miltia noticed the problem. She radiated an aura of glee.
"You thought Valean Rolls use the real stuff, didn't you?"
"...No." Yes.
"You did!" The two girls burst into laughter. "How have you not known that it's fake?"
"They call it imitation crab, gopher. Really, the meat is mostly fish."
"Sushi joints prefer it because imitation crab is waaay cheaper. Only the high-end restaurants put the real stuff in their Valean rolls."
B-but he did go to high-end sushi restaurants! At least, he thought he had. The prices certainly were a class above normal fares. Yet, the adamancy with which his teachers stated their claim revealed the truth. Disbelief warred with disappointment on Jaune's face, the two emotions reconciling to give way for outrage.
It was a scam, a conspiracy! How many restaurants were in on this?
He paused, and clenched his fist.
No, that was the wrong question to ask. Valean rolls filled with imitation crabs were considered to have been made in the correct manner. The official recipe allowed this travesty to exist, so all signs pointed to one conclusion.
The order came from the very top. The Kingdom itself was behind the ruse.
Jaune curled up on his bench, and dropped his head to his knees.
"*sniff*- The sushi is a lie." Melanie and Miltia cackled merrily at the upending of his worldview.
"Oh, poor guy. What's wrong?" An unfamiliar voice said, followed by a second entering the conversation.
"Are you okay?"
Jaune swiveled his head around. Behind him stood a trio of young women dressed for the beach. They were a few years older than him, if he had to judge. The middle one brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Hi there~, I don't think I've seen you around." She took a step nearer, making Jaune have to lean back if he wanted to speak to her face instead of her breasts. When he did so, she seemed pleased. "Wow, such a gentleman, too. You wouldn't believe how many men have stared at me and my friends."
That might have less to do with chivalry, and a lot more to do with him having gotten his fill by looking at his companions across the table. He won't say that aloud, though.
"Yeah, we're pretty new to the resort." He pointed at himself, then indicated Melanie and Miltia. "This is only our second day here. And about the little display earlier, can you ignore that?" Please, please do. "I was just frustrated by some new information I've learned."
"Well..." The girl on the left looked over their group and her lips formed a smile. "You could try talking about it. We're very good listeners. Right, girls?"
"Yup, yup!"
"We so are!"
Was this-? Could it be? Jaune noted the close proximity, the flushed cheeks, and the three pairs of eyes roaming over his chest and arms. Their poses showcased daring swimsuits, emphasizing their figures. No mistake, they were interested in him. Oh, wow!
Oh, no!
How had he acted when those guys gathered around the twins at the beach? If he was right that the two girls were interested in him as he was interested in them, how would they behave in a similar circumstance?
He distanced himself from the trio and turned to the other side of the table, a reassurance ready on his lips. The words died unsaid as Melanie and Miltia launched themselves out of their seat. They planted their hands on the table's surface, and smooth cartwheels coupled with a twist of their bodies dropped them on either side of him. They scooted together along the bench to pin him in between, hip to hip. Melanie waved a hand behind her back in dismissal.
"Can't you see you're, like, the third wheel? We're already keeping him company." Miltia hugged his arm.
"We make the best listeners, right?"
"I would say you're more talkers than-" Melanie's hand covered his mouth.
"Shush, gopher, you're supposed to agree with us. Tell them to leave." Jaune rolled his eyes and moved her hand.
"I was going to do that anyway, although I would have been more tactful than you two." He called out to the people behind him. "I think we are fine here, thank you. Maybe my friends and I will see you around the resort." One of the trio scoffed.
"Whatever. You're missing out."
"When you get bored with them, come and find us~"
The women by his side bristled at the parting shot. Each moved an arm. He didn't have to look to know the exact gestures they wanted to make, so he grabbed the hands and held them until he was sure the three girls have left.
"You could let us have a little fun." Miltia whined. "We didn't interfere when you showed up the idiots at the beach."
"Yeah, but those guys actively tried to separate our group. These girls haven't escalated to that. A vacation is all about enjoying the peace and quiet, so let's not get into too many fights with the people we meet." They hemmed and hawed, but in the end gave him grudging nods. He breathed a sigh of relief. "C'mon, the sushi will go to waste if we don't eat. Hop back to your seats."
"Hmmm. Nope."
"We're comfy here." They pulled their plates next to his, and picked up their chopsticks. "And this will keep any more thirsty bitches from bothering you."
Considering the outcome, Jaune easily accepted this solution. The feeling of their soft bodies pressed against him set his nerves aflame, and every brush of bare skin on bare skin was accompanied by a jolt of excitement.
Not to mention, their relocation placed some tasty treats within reach. Salmon, tuna, eel, and tempura; choices abound for those with fast hands. Jaune clacked his chopsticks together in anticipation. Shifty eyes hunted for the first target.
The smoked eel over rice looked mighty tempting, indeed.
He waited in patience for the right moment. The very instant Melanie's hand moved clear of the plate, his own dove in with the speed of a lunging viper.
*click*
Jaune gasped in dismay. Chopsticks had met plate to capture empty air. Searching around, he found that the prize he seek laid between Melanie's chopsticks, who shot him a cheeky grin. She had expected his gambit, had predicted the sushi he would go for, and prepared accordingly in order to foil his theft. Thus, he was left with neither food nor pride, only disappointment.
That was, until he found the piece of sushi hovering before his mouth, offered by Melanie. He stared at the morsel, then at her.
"If you wanted it, you should have asked. I don't mind sharing."
Asking? Sharing? She spoke of madness. That, or there was a trick he has yet to notice.
Something touched his opposite cheek. A nervous glance revealed a second piece of sushi, presented by Miltia.
"Try this. It's octopus inside with salmon on top. In exchange, can I get some of your Valean Roll?"
"Jaune, my arm is getting tired. Eat."
Carefully, with his eyes bouncing back and forth between the sisters, Jaune nommed on the eel. Chewing, he observed Melanie's face for any signs of duplicity. She seemed happy. Giddy, even.
He next turned to Miltia. Emboldened now, he accepted the sushi and ate it with gusto. Nothing terrible occurred after he did so, though an excited glance from her towards his plate indicated her wish. A trade, then.
"All yours, Mil."
Instead of moving towards the proffered sushi, her lips parted and her eyes fell shut. She tilted her chin up and waited with mouth open for him to feed her.
"Ahhhh..."
That faaaaace! Hnnnngg!
His chopsticks pinched a piece of the Valean Roll easily enough. His hand shook when it began the journey to Miltia. Once there, he tried to hold still.
She brushed back her hair behind her ear. Leaning forward, she bit down on the sushi with relish. A hum of contentment escaped her lips as she savored delectable crabmeat and fresh avocado.
A light poke from his right, along with a demanding pout, made him repeat the process for Melanie. He earned himself a mouthful of spicy salmon for his generosity.
It became their new rhythm, their hands crisscrossing without end. If there was a sense of embarrassment in what they do, then they've buried it deep as they pretended all was normal. Conversation topics flowed from the taste of a particular sushi to the merits of different ingredients, all while avoiding any mention about their act of feeding one another.
Amidst this new routine of theirs, a bittersweet pang of wistfulness welled up in Jaune for what felt like the end of an era. Pilfering from the twins' plates, and vice versa, had been the roundabout manner by which they shared meals. There lived a childish joy in the game they play, a fragile affection yet to mature sheltered under the guise of mischief. What took its place was the deliberateness of three minds, each calculating their next move. He and they, the two sides circled in a dance of equal parts fear and hope. How it worked and where it led, they hadn't one clue.
He could not wait to find out.
Dustmas Eve, 5:43PM, a little ways off the coast
A few miles from land, a yacht rested on calm seas. The boat was one of many here, though few present can boast of a quad-deck design, indoor garden, and a pool. On its third level, where the aft-deck bar was located, three people relaxed on a long, feather-soft couch. Drink glasses sat on the table before them which they occasionally partook of as they faced the horizon, watching day slowing fall to night. The setting sun casted a golden glow over sky and water.
With the crew having taken their leave, it was just the three of them alone together. Sitting between Melanie and Miltia, Jaune practically vibrated with nervous energy. It may be his imagination, but he thought he saw the same in his companions. All through the afternoon, even as they used the pool or napped in the comfort of the cool ocean breeze, there existed an air of anticipation. Oftentimes, he would catch them staring in his direction an instant before they turned elsewhere. They must have been observing him, was what Jaune concluded. And if they did know what he intended, then they've chosen to stay close.
When the very edge of the sun touched the horizon, Jaune stiffened in place. His lips went dry. His breaths came in hurried and shallow gasps. He'd chosen that scene as the signal. The time has come to put the next phase into motion.
Aware of them looking on, he pushed off the couch. Slowly, he strode around the table, course set for the balcony. Turning as he walked, he motioned to the twins.
"Join me? There's only a couple minutes of sunlight left and the balcony gives us the best view." He kept his tone even, his face guileless. Melanie and Miltia shared a silent conversation with their eyes. Shrugging, they hopped to their feet.
Jaune took the opportunity to look past their shoulders. At the staircase, a hand rose above the steps to hold up a thumb.
The veteran Huntsman came in clutch on the yacht, but the best thing he did was to provide the staff for it. Jaune had a crew, backup to help bring everything together. And the pieces were in place. Good.
Upon reaching the balcony, Jaune hung back by half a step. On his left, Miltia crossed her arms on the railing, and laid her chin on top. On his right, Melanie put one foot on the lower rung, her hands set far apart on the top bar. He feigned an avid interest in the sunset to direct their attention and after a few seconds of nothing happening, Melanie and Miltia relaxed. Curious but obliging, they settled in to enjoy the view.
One minute passed, then two minutes. The last undercurrent of tension bled out of their shoulders. They lost themselves in the beautiful vista so rarely seen on the crowded skyline of Vale.
Jaune noted the change, and sent his assistant a surreptitious beckon.
Okay, this was it. They've let down their guard. The scene can't be any more picturesque. The rest was up to his performance. Unless he horribly, horribly misread the cues, he had good shot. An almost certain shot. It's going to work, so let's do this.
Come on.
Come on!
*plink, plink, plonk!*
The heck was that?
One stray thought, and the bravery he mustered deflated like a balloon, overtaken by puzzlement. His ears again picked up the sound of guitar strings played badly echoing from the distance. He, Melanie, and Miltia followed the discordant notes and glimpsed a scene taking place on another boat.
It…it was not pretty.
"Look at him trying to sing! Look at the lady's face!" Melanie gleefully pointed. Miltia pounded a hand on the balcony as she laughed. Any trace of the tranquil atmosphere Jaune created had well and truly vanish.
"She hates it! What kind of idiot would think that was a good idea?"
Heh, heh. Yeah. Who would, indeed?
Jaune peeked sidelong, meeting the eyes of the crewmember who had been in the middle of bringing him a guitar. Silently, he waved a hand across his neck in a cutting gesture.
No go, captain. A serenade was not the winning move.
That'll teach him to cling on to his dad's dating advice. He had been so sure Uncle Hei's book was wrong to dissuade singing, too.
So! Now that the mood was ruined and the next step had gone up in flames, where did that leave him?
With just himself.
Game over. Go home.
Gripped by a newfound despair, Jaune reconsidered the merits of continuing on this course. The doubts he tried to ignore surged in a tide, painting him in an altogether different light. His prospects turned out bleaker than what he previously believed.
With their beauty and charm, Melanie and Miltia can have their pick of any man they wanted, and he had the temerity to assume they'd choose him; how delusional. He claimed to be their equal, yet still loses to them in spars more than he won; how weak. A boy puffed up on his own sense of importance believed he could charm his heroes; what a laugh. The whisper continued on in his ear, spinning a new tale where the signs of their interest that he 'saw' only existed through rose-tinted glasses.
He recognized those insecurities. They stemmed from the experiences of the Jaune who lived in Ansel, the side of him always lurking in the depths of his being that possessed no self-esteem and suspected he would have been happier listening to his parent's wishes. The whispers hit home, because they were said in his voice. He knew himself best. For someone like him, what he currently had was better than he deserved. Quitting while ahead was a valid move, more so when success was far from assured. It benefited him to settle than to dream. Like that, his blissful days as their student can continue without end.
Ah, but is that what Lesson #03 would say?
Amidst a sea of pessimism, a single thought emerged. It refused to subside.
Lesson #03 might not be the first lesson he heard from Melanie and Miltia, but it was the first lesson he attempted to learn. He knew by now that it comprised of half-remembered words from the twins' childhood, mangled badly and spoken on the spur of the moment to impress a starstruck fool. To the whiny bundle of nerves he used to be, it was the start of his journey and the foundation to what he became. He clung to its wisdom with the desperation of a drowning man.
Faced with a challenge, the correct course of action was to double down.
For one unsure, form came first and substance followed. With naught but heart and soul, even a person like him can rise to the top.
His breathing evened out as well-learned (and oft-painful) lessons stamped down on his pathetic spiral. Spoken in the melodious voices of Melanie and Miltia, they possessed an eloquence his piteous doubts failed to match. His own voice that shouted of his shortcomings fell quiet before rising again to join the chorus, reciting the words that guided his way. They culminated in one truth.
All that a Yakuza needed was confidence.
"Mel? Mil?"
They turned towards him, the last traces of mirth present on the corners of their lips. Framed by shimmering water and the evening's soft glow, they could have stepped out of a fairy tale. As ever, he was captivated. This time, he made a move.
Leaning in, he placed a kiss on Melanie's cheek, to her startled gasp. He lingered for a second, then turned next to Miltia. She wore a deer in headlights look, along with a hint of worry that faded to relief when she saw him drawing closer. With a slight tilt of her head, she accepted an identical kiss to her cheek.
Pulling back, Jaune said clearly to them.
"I like you. I've liked you for a while, now."
On Dustmas Eve, in the fading light of the Vacuan sunset, Jaune took a resolute step beyond their comfortable relationship, come what may.
They stared at him in silence, failing to form words. A dusting of red colored their cheeks. Miltia's hand touched the spot he kissed. Jade eyes glittered with emotion.
The coward in him suggested he run now. His childish side advised him to play it off as a joke. Ignoring both, he kept his gaze on Melanie and Miltia, simply waiting for their answer.
Would it be joy in his future, or dejection?
"Oh, fuck that shy puppy bullshit!"
Errr...what?
Blinking, he parsed through the unexpected response. It hadn't sounded positive, and was laced with a tempestuous pique, but before he could panic (or cry) Melanie grabbed him by the back of his head and mashed her lips to his.
Shocked into stillness, he let her guide him as she pleased. Her kiss was an impatient thing, pressing hard against his lips with a hunger that conveyed her frustration at how long he had made her wait. Her hands pulled his head down, fingers running through his hair.
Mind blank, he lost himself in the scent of her perfume, in the feeling of her warm breath tickling his skin. It took him an age to return the kiss, and when he did she saw it as a challenge.
Without a warning, Melanie slipped her tongue into his mouth, running it over his own and stealing the entirety of his focus for a second time. After a moment all too brief, she teased him with a quick, playful flick of the tongue then pulled away. Their lips separated, leaving him with the taste of lipstick and rum. Dazed and giddy, Jaune grinned like a loon; a result Melanie seemed to like as her face practically glowed in triumph.
"There! That's the proper way of showing— H-Hey!"
Miltia had seen her chance and, ignoring her sister's indignant squawk, skipped in between Melanie and Jaune. Instead of making him lean down to her, she stood on tip-toes with her hands grasping his shirt for balance. Just before their lips touched, Jaune regained enough presence of mind to tilt his chin, meeting her at a better angle.
Where Melanie's kiss was insistent and passionate, Miltia's was a soft, unhurried exploration. Delicately, she turned her head this way and that to discover the position she'd enjoy most. Once found, she happily hummed as her eyes fluttered closed. Their kiss lingered as boy and girl both savored the act.
When they drew back from each other, she flashed an impish smile and swooped in again to surprise him with a second, feather-light peck. After, she giggled.
"I was honestly fine with what you did, but this is better." Melanie scoffed, disagreeing.
"Well, I wasn't. He flaked out."
Jaune winced at the scathing remark, something that Melanie noticed. She rolled her eyes.
"It was...cute, I guess. But we've been through, like, way too much for this to be some first crush confession scene, you know? I would have liked to see you take charge." Next to her, Miltia raised a finger to object, but retracted it midway with a thoughtful expression.
"Being too meek is a bit of a turn off." Her demeanor turned teasing. "It doesn't really scream boyfriend material."
Jaune froze in place as her words resounded in his head. His heart pounded heavily, wracked by panic. Alarm bells blared out disaster warnings. Within an imaginary war room, a slew of Jaune Arcs in various military uniforms came to an agreement and dispatched their order to the real body.
He had come too far, he had done too much, to fail here at the finish line.
Jaune thought he had acted with confidence. He had barely made the cut. They wanted more from him. So let's oblige them.
-o-
"Is that so? My, my. Allow me to correct that error."
Miltia stiffened upon hearing that silky tone of voice, under which was the faintest edge of a growl. Her disciple had never sounded so assured. So refined. So...
He looked at her straight on with clear eyes, and flashed a debonair grin, the corners of which then twisted further to display an undercurrent of cruel delight.
Miltia gulped.
...So fucking suave.
What had been the barest semblance of confidence, a fragile pretense, had faded from his face. A boundless arrogance took its place, and if that too was faked, then it had doubled-, tripled-, quadrupled-down to become indistinguishable from the real thing.
Jaune straightened his back, and the close proximity made him appeared towering in height. His sharp gaze now looked down upon her, evoking the image of a lion looming before a helpless gazelle. The throaty chuckle he made sent a thrill up her spine. Those big hands of his reached out to caress her and her sister's cheeks, the gentle reassurance juxtaposing with the dangerous image he presented.
Who showed him how to act so fucking suave? Who!?
Oh, wait. They did, when they taught him how to walk and talk like the quintessential Yakuza. And they've just goaded the boy, someone who would even take their jokes to heart, to bring all those lessons to bear.
Jaune's fingers brushed back Melanie's hair, then traced a path to cup the girl's face. Firmly, he guided her close to steal a kiss from her lips. If inexperience might have threatened his act there, it was sufficiently offset by Melanie's enthusiastic participation.
Were that not enough, Jaune's other arm traveled down to wrap around Miltia's waist, pulling her close. Cruelly, he made her wait as he kissed Melanie, giving Miltia a view of the fate that awaited her. She seriously considered shoving her dear sister aside.
He broke the kiss, and stared deep in Melanie's eyes.
"Go out with me."
His words set Melanie's face aflame, the girl delighted by the act. She hid it, poorly, behind a façade of cockiness and tried to retake the initiative.
"See? That's much better. Next time, don't fucking hesitate-" Jaune interrupted Melanie by sealing her lips again.
No fair, Mel's had her turn. It's Miltia-time now. Hurry uuuup!
Frustrated, she glared at—her boyfriend? No, he hadn't said the line to her yet (and he better say it soon!)—at her Jaune's stupid face. For the first time in her life, she considered that maybe there should be a limit to teasing.
That said, —her gaze trailed lower to his neck— there was something she had wanted to do if given the opportunity. Since he trapped her here, Jaune had no room to object. It might get her his attention too, so all the better.
Rising up on the balls of her feet, she nipped at Jaune's neck, sucking on the skin to leave a mark. One hand searched for the scroll tucked in her dress.
A picture should give those knockoffs from Beacon a hint to back off. And if not, then the next few dozen pictures they'd take of their dates on this trip would finish the job.
Jaune was theirs. Nobody else's. End of story.
Jaune's Dustmas presents
1. Xiong and Whine 2: The Dos and Don'ts When You've Landed a Girlfriend (or Two), with Anecdotes by 'Junior' Hei Xiong,from Uncle Hei
2. Fedora and leather gloves, to match his suits, from Melanie
3. Black leather pants, totally not because she wanted eye candy, from Miltia
4. Curated playlist suitable for studying, from the Bear DJ
5. Various Pumpkin Pete merchandises (yet to be released), from Pyrrha Nikos
6. A box of self-made grenades, Lighting Dust version, from Nora Valkyrie
7. Legendary Drinker of Mistral hangover cure, from Lie Ren
8. The Baby Huntsman's First Attachable Gun Kit (Fits Most Melee Weapons and Other Guns), along with a note that says "Hint, hint!", from Ruby Rose
9. Hand wraps, and entrant instructions for underground fighting tournament, from Yang Xiao-Long
10. Case of high quality Dust, all types; supposedly not a tribute, from Weiss Schnee
11. Novel, "24-hour Cinderella: A tale of Cabaret, Love, and Yakuza", from Blake Belladonna
12. Sword-and-shield training manual, and a letter, from Arc family
13. Bottle of Mistralian whiskey (12 years), from Sky Lark
14. The name of her tailor, from Coco Adel
15. A bag of snickerdoodles, from *name smudged out on card*. Rest of card is legible but nondescript
16. A can of coffee, and thirty Lien's worth of tokens for SAGA HI-TECH LAND arcade in Vale, from May Zedong
17. An executioner's axe, no sender listed
18. Wide variety of gift cards, store products, sweets, from Red Axe minions and Xiong territory civilians
Authors Note: Jaune sets up the shot, but Melanie was the one to clinch it, with Miltia following up to really drive it home. Nice play.
How will things change after this most momentous of events?...ehhh, well, not actually all that much. These idiots already skipped a few steps in their daily lives without noticing.
What's a beach episode without swimsuits? The Malachites are in Xmas colors, too~
For swimsuit reference, search "Malachite Swimsuits by artist iesupa"
I like sushi. I hate California Rolls.
Merry Xmas 2023
