Growing up, Jaune had never been one to arrive to class early. Quite the opposite, in fact. When he wasn't on time he was only ever late. So it came as quite a different feel when he arrived at Professor Rainart's class a good ten minutes ahead of its scheduled start time.
He stood outside the doorway, collecting his nerves as he prepared to enter into the room alone with the bear of a man. Hazel was as confusing of a figure as he had ever encountered. The man worked for Salem. He had a hand in aiding and training the Grimm hybrids in their mission to infiltrate and undermine humanity. And yet, Hazel at his core did not seem to be evil. He did not act evil.
Hazel did not revel in the chaos and confusion that could be brought upon humanity like Professor Watts did. He did not take pleasure in deceit and the manipulation of pawns like Professor Fall. And he was certainly not an unhinged loon like Professor Callows. No, Hazel was not at all like any of his fellow teachers here at the academy. It made Jaune wonder what exactly made the man tick. What was the incentive in doing his job here? Why did he serve the monstrous Queen of the Grimm with as much loyalty as the rest of them?
It was that unknown which made Hazel intimidating. Jaune knew the other humans and faunus who served the Queen. Hazel was an enigma. One false step could be the boy's last.
Still, Hazel was also his last, best hope in what he hoped to accomplish. The giant at least seemed to possess a shred of humanity. Compassion. Empathy. It had been Hazel who told him to find something to fight for. Hazel who encouraged him to train privately in order to improve his odds of survival at this school. Perhaps... perhaps he would be willing to let Jaune have at least one small mercy while he was a captive here.
Steeling himself for the conversation to come, Jaune pushed himself through the entrance and into Hazel's classroom. The man sat behind his desk looking down at what he assumed was paperwork of some sort. It was a comical sight to see such a monstrous man behind a desk like some sort of mid-level management figure. Yet Jaune dared not crack even the smallest sliver of a smile.
Hazel looked up as Jaune approached. "Arc," he grunted.
It had been so long since Jaune had heard his own last name. Or anyone's surname who was not a teacher, really. It suddenly dawned on him that he had never once heard any of his classmate's last names. Did they even have them? Did they even know who they once were? Were they simply stripped of their family names when they were turned into the monsters they were today?
"Professor Rainart," Jaune nodded courteously as he approached the desk.
The man seemed content with letting whatever work he was doing take a backseat, giving his full attention to Jaune. "How are you, boy?"
The fact that Hazel asked how he was doing helped to put Jaune's mind at ease. It helped to confirm that the man did indeed not appear to be that bad of a guy. Maybe, just maybe, he would honor Jaune's request.
"I'm... okay," he said hesitantly. He thought back to the other night. Movie night.
The way that Ruby had seemed to hold him just a little bit tighter that night. How she had slipped one of her legs between his own as they went to sleep...
Another grunt acknowledged his response. "You're early, and your usual posse isn't present. Is there something I can help you with?"
Hazel was perceptive. He had to give the man that. Normally Jaune did walk into class with Ruby and Weiss practically hanging from him. Sometimes even literally too. As it turned out, the redhead had quite an appetite for piggyback rides. Knowing how they ate, he wouldn't doubt it if she would also have an appetite for actual pig's backs.
"I, um, was wondering if you could maybe do me a favor," he asked nervously.
He hoped that Hazel wouldn't immediately rebuke him. That he would be correct about the man's humanity. That he wouldn't turn out to be the worst teacher of them all. After all, they said that it was always the quiet ones who were ticking time bombs waiting to explode.
Hazel stood up, his massive form towering over Jaune as he stepped out from behind his desk. "And that is?"
Jaune took a deep breath. Here it goes. "I was wondering if it would be possible to get in touch with my family," he said softly. Blue eyes couldn't even look up at Hazel's face for fear that he would lose his nerve. "Just a scroll call. Or a letter. Something to just let them know I'm okay. That I'm still alive. After all, they think I'm at a huntsman academy..."
Teeth sank into his lower lip as he awaited Hazel's response. He felt like a man on trial awaiting the jury's verdict. Only in this case, Hazel was not only the jury, but the judge and executioner as well. Knowing this place, the last one could very well turn out to be literal.
It was the heavy sigh which came from Hazel's lips which caused Jaune to look up at him again. Now it was Hazel who looked away. "Family," he said. His tone sounded tired. "You do have a family, don't you?"
Dare he hold out hope? Did his words actually make an impact on the hulking man?
"Yes, sir," he confirmed. "Seven sisters and my parents. They know I'm attending a huntsman academy. So if they don't hear from me for months..."
"They might think you're dead," Hazel finished for him.
Jaune nodded. "Yeah."
A massive hand came to rest upon the desk, and Hazel continued to look anywhere but at Jaune. "Died in a training exercise, perhaps," he mused.
It was an oddly specific, but very realistic explanation. "Yeah, something like that," Jaune agreed.
The boy had always known that dying in such a manner was a real possibility. After all, huntsmen and huntresses knowingly and willingly put themselves in the line of fire for the good of the people of Remnant. However, Jaune had never realized just how dangerous the profession was. He had been so wrapped up in the idea of being a hero and living up to his family name that he never was able to truly comprehend what he would have been facing.
What a naive fool he had been.
Living at this academy for weeks now, having been exposed to the very beasts he would have been slaying as a huntsman, Jaune realized how woefully unprepared he would have been. He had come with only the sword and armor provided to him by his family. No Aura. No Semblance. No training. This place, ironically, had given him all three. The very creatures and people he would have been fighting were teaching him how to become a competent warrior.
Life truly was strange sometimes.
"You may send them a letter," Hazel finally said, breaking the deafening silence which had settled over them. "One letter. It will be read over by myself to ensure that you do not alert them to your true situation."
The terms were understandable. They were more than agreeable. It was the best thing Jaune could have hoped for outside of a face to face conversation over the CCT Network. "Thank you, Professor. This means more to me than you can imagine."
"Being able to speak to your loved ones again is something that I can imagine all too well," the man said cryptically.
A tiny smile crept onto Jaune's face. He felt a strange sense of camaraderie with Hazel now. As it turned out, the man did understand where Jaune was coming from. "What about you, Professor Rainart? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
"Once."
In an instant that sense of warmth was replaced by a chill of lightning striking down his spine. "Oh. I-I'm sorry. I didn't know."
Another grunt sounded from Hazel's throat. "Take a seat. Your classmates will be arriving shortly."
Jaune looked up to the clock and saw that it was indeed nearly time for class. Weiss would likely be the first one in, given her desire to thrive and succeed above all else. Ruby would probably be close behind, eager to reunite with her wayward roommate. Yang, Blake, and the rest would filter in at some point. From there it would just be another day of classes. Another ordinary day in this unordinary place.
Knowing that he had stepped into uncomfortable territory with Hazel, Jaune didn't say another word as he turned and retreated away from the teacher's desk. He didn't want to risk what he had gained here today. The opportunity to send a letter back home. To let his family know that for the time being at least, he was alive and well. He had to think of all of the things he wanted to tell them.
After all, there may never be an opportunity for a second letter.
"I know what I promised."
Jaune hated this. He knew what he had said, but this wasn't what he wanted to do. He hated lying to people he felt close to, he hated being the center of attention and he absolutely hated having to feel like his every move and action was being judged so totally. That the slightest misstep would get him killed, just like that.
"So where do we begin?"
Jaune sighed. They were in an auxiliary room of the prison-like castle. They being himself, the elegant and refined Weiss, the powerful, built Yang, the small, cute Ruby and...well, he couldn't see the last one. He didn't even know she was actually there. But he didn't doubt she was. Somewhere, in this largely bare room, Blake was there. Watching. Waiting.
For what? Jaune had no answer. The girls had cornered Jaune and dragged him off for 'human lessons', how to properly maintain a human form. Though Yang, of course, did not seem terribly interested in the lessons themselves.
"I just like watching you squirm. Plus, you have excellent taste in porn, so I know you're alright!"
Jaune grimaced. "I didn't even have anything to do with th-ack!"
Yang cut him off with a hearty backslap, cushioned by his Aura. He managed not to stumble as she laughed. "Like I'm going to give credit to the great white twig! Take the compliment, big boy."
Weiss in particular did not seem to enjoy the descriptor. "I have plenty where it counts, boorish swine."
A glint entered Yang's eyes, the larger girl stalking toward Weiss. Weiss drew back, glaring at the blonde. "What were you mumbling to yourself on the couch last night, Weiss-Queen? Something about a certain fishy-boy ripping you up inside?"
Weiss let out a disgruntled noise but did not refute the claim.
"Then I have an idea. To show Jaune just how well his training works," Yang looked back to Jaune with heavy lidded red eyes, "How about we shed these oppressive clothes. You show him what's on the outside, tempt him to go hog wild on those insides of yours."
Weiss turned on Yang, her index finger nearly poking Yang's nose. "Now you listen here you degenerate! When I grace Jaune with my bare flesh, it will be at a time and place of my own choosing!"
Jaune blinked. When? Weiss let out a yelp, distracting him, as Yang tried to bite the protruding finger.
"But Weiss, if he can't see as much of you as possible, how can he judge if we're properly following his instructions? How do we know you haven't been faking it this whole time, and can't actually hold a human guise fully?"
Weiss let out another indignant noise, Jaune turning away from the two bickering. Ruby was leaning against the corner, arms crossed. Her black skeletal hand was drumming along her fleshbound limb.
"Are they always like this?"
Ruby groaned. "You have no idea. Ever since we were kids, Weiss and Yang have been competing with each other. I swear sometimes I think they're the sisters!"
Jaune did wonder about that. How did Ruby know she and Yang were sisters again? "So why haven't they, you know..." He wasn't sure how to phrase it. He had seen both of them spar now. Neither was relenting, both would put down the weaker foe. "...sparred?"
Ruby blinked. "They've sparred plenty. Who wins usually comes down to who hits the other first. Typically what really matters is why they're sparring."
He turned his head, confusion clear. "But they're both still alive."
Ruby laughed. "Oh, Jaune, we don't have to kill people we spar with. Yang and Weiss, they don't hate each other."
The yelling from the corner increased in pitch.
"I've honestly never seen friendlier hybrids than the two of them." Jaune blinked as Ruby spoke, wondering if she had the same definition of 'friendly' as him. "If you ask me, they can be downright affectionate with each other."
"And your breasts are so great that you can't even see your own ugly feet! Who would ever want that!"
"Yeah, well at least I don't have to have such a pert ass, so tight that you could bounce a human money coin off of it!"
Ruby rolled her eyes. "Just hug already!"
A simultaneous "No!" was the response. Shaking her head, she turned back to Jaune. "See what I mean? So embarrassing!"
Jaune stared at the younger girl. "I don't understand any of you."
"We have come to an agreement!"
The voice of Weiss called his attention immediately, Ruby perking up as she hopped to his side. Weiss and Yang were side by side, arms on their hips. Yang was smiling ear to ear, a dark shade dusting Weiss's angry expression. Was she blushing?
"As I have discoursed with the annoying sow with far too thick hair that she cannot take care of properly," Weiss took a breath, "We will strip to our undergarments. To properly determine just how well we manage 'looking human.' I think it is preposterous, but if it helps to prove my superior figure so be it."
Before Jaune could properly break down what Weiss had just said, Yang spoke up. "As the lady of no stature and less class said, we're stripping. So enjoy the show there lover boy, and be sure to pay us back in kind."
He blinked. "This is crazy. Ruby tell them, this is stupid!" Silence followed by the sound of ruffling clothes drew his increasingly worried attention. "...Ruby?"
Ruby looked at him, cape already off and in her hands, with a gaze that he hadn't quite seen before on her face. Her cheeks were darkened, like Weiss and she seemed to be eyeing him like a meal. A bright smile graced her features.
"I don't know, it sounds fun!" Her eyes narrowed as her grin widened. "Let's give it a shot."
What was with these hybrids and their aversion to clothes! Ruby liked sleeping nude before he stopped her. Apparently Yang sometimes 'forgot' to wear a shirt at all! And now they were all just going to willingly strip to show off their humanity?
Jaune's head whipped around to Weiss, his one bastion of sanity. "Come on, you have to agree this is-!" Only to be cut off as her dress hit the ground, pony tail whipping up. Though she was wearing underwear, it was extremely pale white, nearly blending in with her very skin. It was almost as if she was wearing nothing at all.
Weiss glared at him, crossing her arms. "What! Don't stare at me, servant!"
"Yeah, Jaune," Yang's voice caught him by surprise. Looking over, he was immediately reminded that the blonde girl had amazing... assets. "Turn that lustful gaze somewhere more appreciating."
The boy stumbled back, heart pounding in his chest. This was almost too much. Yang he had seen in the buff before, in a much more intimate setting, but Weiss. Weiss was something else. Her lithe form, powerful but compact, had coiled itself against his own in the dead of night. Heat rose uncontrollably as he stumbled another step back. Into something soft.
Ruby giggled. "Come on!" Equally as stark as her sister, Jaune's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "It's your turn!"
It didn't matter how many times he had seen the soft, wonderfully smooth body of Ruby. He could probably see her, Weiss and Yang undressed every day for the rest of his life and he would never get used to it. Raising his hands, Jaune started to back away.
"I never agreed to this."
Weiss snorted. "As if your compliance was needed."
Ruby giggled again, running one of her horns along his arm. "Come on Jaune, we won't bite."
Yang's horns slid in around his neck, one on either side, her breath coming in hot and heavy on his back. "Not unless you ask."
Jaune, unsure if he even wanted to fight this, opened his mouth again. Whatever words of defiance he had died in his throat as the feeling of the third horn, belonging to Weiss, sent shivers up his back. Digging in under his beloved hoodie and the shirt he wore beneath it, Weiss lifted the garment up. Ruby, moving in tandem with her, hooked it between her two horns, Yang moving back long enough to let the two toss the articles of clothing into a heap on the side.
Yang quickly took her place again, now pushing Jaune forward against the wall, pressing her upper body against his. He tried desperately to ignore the soft, burning hot feeling of her body against his own. Weiss eyed his belt, Ruby already moving down to get to work, when he quickly undid his pants and, working around Yang as best he could, kicked out of them.
Breaking free of Yang, in only his boxers for modesty, Jaune clapped. "Okay! Okay!" He had to take back control of the situation. "Okay." Gulping, his throat dry as any desert you could name, he tried not to let his gaze linger too long on any girl. Nor on their own naked appraisal of his body. The unashamed lust of Yang, the burning judgment of Weiss, and what could only be described as pure hunger of Ruby.
Clasping his hands together, Jaune tried to pull things back. "So, I think I know," his head was spinning. This was too much. "I think, uh."
"Shouldn't we go to our human forms?" Weiss rose her hand like she was in class.
Jaune nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, that makes..."
He immediately regretted his words. Warm color overtook monstrous flesh, Yang's horns becoming half their length, her frightening arm vanishing away entirely. Blonde hair flared brighter for Yang and in order, red eyes faded to lilac, icy blue and sterling silver. They were gorgeous in their true hybrid forms. Now, it was something else entirely. He knew, even if Yang hadn't let out a wolf whistle, that his 'lower horn' was standing at proud, pained attention. His breathing came in shallow bursts.
Ruby still had trouble getting her horns to vanish, something Yang mirrored. Jaune tried to focus on that, the slight imperfections. The stuff he could help them with. He looked at Weiss to judge her fully and found nothing. She was, regrettably, flawless.
"How long, um, can you- are you. How long are you able to hold your human form, Weiss?"
Weiss tilted her head, reminding Jaune so much of a puppy. A very sexy puppy. A very sexy puppy that thought that it knew more than it did and made him want to just push her up against a wall and- This metaphor was quickly getting out of hand.
"Around two hours. Give or take. Yet when we're infiltrating, we'll need to hold our forms for much longer."
Yang nodded. "Weissboard is right. At Beacon, we'll have to stick around humans for extended periods of time. It's going to suck so much!" Her arm then exploded into her Grimm-limb, Yang clutching at it as if trying to hug her own arm. "I love my baby so much! I can't bear to keep him away for so long."
"...Him?" Jaune knew a story was there.
Yang nodded again. "Yeah! My arm is a fusion of two Beringels or something! That was my mutation. Semi-sentient, capable of acting on his own for my best interests, he's the best!"
Jaune knew that term. Beringel, that was something Watts had referred to. A type of Grimm. The gorilla? Jaune looked over at Ruby and where her skeletal arm normally was. Already she was losing her human parlor. "So your different limbs are actually some subset of Grimm?"
Ruby looked oddly defensive about that. "Well, yeah, but don't worry about that!"
Weiss let out a haughty laugh, distracting Jaune. "This is why I am the superior child. I am the only hybrid to be dipped into the pools of rebirth and emerge nearly as flawless as Salem."
Yang snorted. "Yeah, you and Cardin. Fat lot of good it did him."
Weiss glared at her blonde companion. "Do not insinuate that I am anything like that boar. Unlike him, I am a perfectly capable of defending myself against the likes of you."
This back and forth made Jaune remember something. Something about Cardin and Yang? He could have sworn overhearing something about it when he and his group had surrounded Weiss, though Ruby had been talking his ear off. "Yang, Cardin, and you. Do you have a history?"
All three of the girls present began to laugh, unnerving Jaune. It wasn't often to hear them share in joy. Ruby was the one to answer first. "Just check him out in the locker room some time. You'll get it."
"He tried to get fresh with me, so I put him in his place." Yang had her human hand on her still very bare hip, a smug grin on her face.
Jaune looked back at Weiss. "She's who you picked up fresh from, isn't it?"
Weiss harrumphed and looked away, refusing to confirm or deny. Jaune shook his head. These three. What was he going to do? In between the laughter and shared joy, Jaune noticed something. Ruby's color had returned, and if he wasn't mistaken, her horns had shrunk as well.
His eyes widened.
"Ruby! You're looking more human!"
Ruby jumped back in surprise. "What? I am? Is it contagious!"
"That's a good thing, you bolt!" Weiss snapped.
"I'm not a screw!"
Jaune sighed. "She meant dolt." Weiss opened her mouth to chew him out. "You meant dolt, don't you back talk me!" Settling for a glare, Weiss closed her mouth again. He'd be hearing more from her later.
"What's a dolt?"
"It's a person you greatly admire." Yang was quick to respond.
"Thank you, Weiss! You're my dolt too!"
"Don't you dolt me!"
"You can't get away from my dolting!"
Jaune stared as the two began to chase each other like children, arguing playfully back and forth. Yang slid up next to him, nodding at them.
"Disgusting to look at, aren't they?"
Jaune shook his head. Hybrids. Only, he realized, Ruby's horns were gone entirely. In their playing and sharing of positive emotions, she had mastered her human form. His eyes widened, opening his mouth to call out to her, when Yang put a heavy arm around his shoulder.
"Don't point it out. Weiss is too thick and Ruby won't get it yet. You got it though, big boy. The more human you feel, the more human you can appear. Neat trick, innit?"
He looked back at her. "How long have you known?"
"Few years. Having something to care for, it changes you. Even if you hate it, you can't help it. It's why I was allowed to go on a minor mission, where I picked up my baby shotgun. Oh you should have seen Weissy's face. She hasn't cracked it yet, see, doesn't know that I can look perfectly human if I tried. She brute forces her way into it like she does with everything.
He wanted to laugh. Like Yang had any right to accuse anyone of utilizing brute force to achieve her goals.
"Stubborn as a mule, that one." Yang eyed him top to bottom. "I'd love to hear how you figured it out. And when."
Jaune's mouth dried out again, made worse as Yang pulled him closer. The warmth of her body radiated off of her in waves, clouding his brain. That was, until the splash of ice water that was Blake's bladed tentacle hit him full bore, running from the back of his head down to his left leg. Turning quickly, Blake was there.
Just, standing there. Tentacle retracting, Blake wasn't hiding at all. She wasn't in some distant corner or stuffed somewhere she couldn't possibly have fit. Her robe hung loose around her frame, shifting from one leg to the other. One cat ear twitched as she waved at Jaune.
"Can I show you my human form?"
Something about those words were ominous. They hung, pregnant, ready to burst with some unknown terror. Jaune noticed that Yang had stepped away. Tentatively he nodded.
A slight haze of purple overtook Blake's form, red eyes dissolving away to bright amber. Horrific scars melted away to soft, pristine flesh, even as the tentacles seemed to also dissolve. It looked different, Jaune realized, than how the other girls changed.
Maybe a side product of her being the newest changed? Before him stood a gorgeous young woman with wild black hair, two black cat ears nestled atop, and a firm, beautiful body partially hidden behind a robe. If he had to be honest, Ruby and Weiss were still prettier to him, but the way her legs filled out from the malnourished sticks that they had been, and the exotic mix of different traits. He couldn't deny she looked good.
More than that, she looked enticing. Alluring. Jaune's breath caught in his throat as she locked eyes with him. They arrested him, drew him. Everything about her filled his head with a purple haze. Without meaning to, without wanting to, Jaune took a shaky step towards the woman. He couldn't stop himself. She was so, something about her was so, just, he couldn't even blink. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.
She would be Heaven to touch. He wanted to hold her, to embrace her. Thank the gods he was alive to witness such beauty. A quivering hand reached out for her pristine cheek-
Only for Yang to snatch him away with her giant limb! Jaune started to yell at her, taking him so roughly and suddenly, when 'Blake' vanished. From within what he had thought was Blake came the all too familiar tentacles, shattering the illusion before him. Yang was growling as the true Blake burst forward, still as monstrous as ever.
"You always ruin my fun!"
Yang snarled at her in response. "He's not your meal!"
"He was coming to me willingly!" Blake snapped her tentacled limb against the ground, digging a deep groove.
"Your shadow clone was bewitching him! Just like any other prey you come across with that damned Semblance of yours!"
A keening laughter filled the air. "Don't be jealous, Yang, just because he's far more interested in my perfect flesh."
"Excuse yourself?"
The voice of Weiss cut through the air like a knife as she stepped in between the two. "If there's anyone perfect around here, it will be me in time. You, faunus freak? You're not even worthy to polish my throne."
Blake gurgled with laughter. "Keep calling me names, princess. You only make me hunger more. Unlike you, I don't have to work to get his attention. All I have to do is show a little leg and my Jaune there comes drooling for a piece. Little underdeveloped thing like you," suddenly, to Jaune's utter horror, Blake was behind Weiss. The Blake that had been talking to her faded away like shadows. "He would just break you in half. I could do that for him, if you'd like."
Blake hissed as a red cape wrapped around her head. Ruby jumped past, dragging Blake out the door with her. Sending the hybrid flailing into the darkened hallway, which Jaune was certain had been lit when they had come here, Ruby put her cape back on with a flourish.
"Stay out!" Looking back to Jaune, she smiled. "Sorry about that. Any time Blake flares up her Aura, she gets a bit weird."
Jaune nodded dumbly. Blake had Aura? She could be weirder? He prayed to never find out what that meant. "I think we're done for today."
Weiss was staring at the ground as Yang and Ruby were getting dressed. Jaune couldn't help himself, approaching her. "You okay there," he lowered his voice to a whisper so Yang couldn't hear. "Snow Angel?"
"I need to go speak with someone."
That was all she said before collecting her garments and leaving. Jaune watched, unsure what to say. He wasn't even sure what was wrong with her. Still, he learned something valuable today. To be able to remain in human form, they had to embrace more human emotions. That, that could be the key to everything.
It felt like déjà vu for Weiss. Not for the first time this week, she was off to see a teacher. Off for another private lesson of sorts. The first had led to the second. She hoped that it would be equally as productive.
Professor Fall was the academy's authority when it came to infiltrating the human kingdoms. With infiltration came a number of specific skills and methods. Seduction happened to be on that list. It was appropriate for a young and beautiful woman like Cinder. It was equally as appropriate for an even younger and more beautiful hybrid like Weiss.
Weiss still remembered the way Jaune had looked at her the first day they met. When he had gazed upon her perfect human form in the cafeteria. She also remembered the way he had stared at Blake in her own human form.
It was utterly unacceptable. His eyes should have been for her, and her alone.
After their most recent tutoring lesson together, it was clear to Weiss that she was falling behind. It was clear that she had to increase her level of aggression. If there was one thing she knew she was fully capable of, it was being proactive. Her status as the top student in the academy reflected this.
Not that it was a competition or anything! Weiss knew that she was undoubtedly the most skilled and attractive hybrid in existence. That included Blake and her tentacles. Yang and her monstrous arm. Her beauty came from her natural body alone. There were no physical flaws nor enhancements on her. No artificial pieces tainted her. Her perfect form rivaled that of even Salem herself.
However, it was clear that she still had much to learn. That didn't bother her, as she was attending this academy for a reason. She was here to learn. To become the very best she could be. If that meant taking time out of her day to visit a teacher in order to add to her fountain of information, then she was willing to do just that.
Weiss clutched the movie against her chest as she neared Cinder's quarters. There were many questions that she had about it. Not the first being, was there more of it? More true stories about human plumbers and faunus homeowners working out creative payment plans for his services? But perhaps that was a question best asked for Professor Callows. He after all was the provider of movies to the students. At least to her and the late Nolan.
Her fist lightly knocked on the door, and Weiss took a step back. Her head and her horn were held high in anticipation for her upcoming conversation. A conversation about seduction. About mating. Topics broached in the movie, but ones they had not discussed in class yet. Cinder would know all about it. Cinder would be able to teacher her everything she needed to know.
The door opened to reveal the raven-haired woman. Burning golden eyes looked down on her, betraying no emotion as usual. Cinder held no reverence for the children of Salem. She was cold and pragmatic, traits which Weiss felt that she could admire. Ruthless efficiency spoke to her far more than games and theatrics.
"Weiss," Cinder greeted. "How may I help you?"
"Professor Fall," Weiss began as she adjusted her posture. Her back was straight and her shoulders were stiff as she gazed up at the taller woman. "I wish to speak to you about an important matter."
A pause and a breath later, Cinder nodded once. "Very well. Please, come in."
Weiss followed the woman inside to find a simple room. Weiss approved of her manner of living. There were no personal trinkets or decorations. No clutter. No excessive furniture or possessions. Just the basics. A bed and a dresser. A desk and a chair. Cinder led her over to said chair, and motioned for her to take a seat.
"Now then," the woman continued. "Does this have anything to do with our lessons?"
"It does."
"And it couldn't have waited for tomorrow?"
Weiss shook her head. "No. It does not concern the current material we are covering."
"Oh?" Cinder asked, sounding a tad bit more interested than before. "Do tell."
With a soft nod, Weiss held up the movie Tyrian had given to her for Cinder to see. "I wish to learn more about this," she stated with absolute certainty and confidence.
A pair of bright eyes widened for a split second, and a sudden spike in negativity radiated from her professor. "Tyrian," she growled.
"Yes," Weiss confirmed. "Professor Callows provided me with this learning material. I was hoping that you would maybe be able to... explain certain things in it."
Cinder pinched the bridge of her nose. "Learning material," she whispered incredulously. "If you're asking me to watch that movie with you, I'm afraid I must decline."
Weiss was fine with that. After all, she had already watched it twice herself. There was no need for a further viewing. "That is perfectly fine. I was merely wondering if you could... properly go over the act of human mating with me. You are after all the academy's expert on the subject."
The woman's nose wrinkled. "Mating?" she asked. "I was under the impression that you and Jaune were already participating in... how did you phrase it? Personal one on one activities together."
They were indeed. Cooking breakfast with Jaune was one of her favorite daily activities. Still though, it had nothing to do with the subject at hand. "Oh yes, very much so," Weiss confirmed. "Every morning. While he is quite good at satisfying my hunger, sometimes we wish to try new things as well. Especially with Ruby now joining us."
Another surge of negative emotions came off of Cinder, causing Weiss' attention to focus entirely on her rather than the movie in her hands. "You and Ruby with him... at the same time?"
"Yes. To be honest, it is quite irritating for her to intrude on my personal time with Jaune. However, he finds time to scramble both of our eggs."
"Does he now... it must be quite exhausting."
"He knows his place," Weiss stated haughtily. "And he knows that if I leave unsatisfied then I shall impale him with my horn."
"I had no idea he was interested in that kind of play."
"I wouldn't call him interested," the hybrid clarified. "Naturally he doesn't enjoy a stiff poking, however certain steps must be taken to remind him of his place in the grand order of things."
Horn duel or not, her displays of dominance were still important. From day one she had figured out that he did not enjoy her horn pokes. And who would? It was a long, sharp, and glorious horn capable of skewering both humans and hybrids alike. The fact that Jaune had never done anything to counter or stop her attacks only made her realize one thing. He feared her horn. He was beneath her in the pecking order. He was hers to dominate. Official or not, he belonged to her. Not to Blake. Not to Ruby. No one but her.
And she would take what was hers.
"Enough!" Cinder said suddenly, raising her hands to emphasize the word. The negativity radiating from her was palpable. Weiss wondered why. "Weiss," she continued said softly after collecting herself. "If you, Jaune, and even Ruby are already participating in these sorts of... activities, then what further advice do you need from me?"
It was embarrassing to say the least, but Weiss might have been a little bit wrong on the exact details when it came to mating. Yang had explained to her what was going on in the movie once Ruby and Jaune had left them, but Weiss was still a little bit fuzzy on the specifics. It was why she was here speaking to Cinder at this very moment.
"I am led to believe that mating is an act where a man repeatedly stabs his partner with his lower horn, correct?"
She didn't quite know how to gauge Cinder's reaction. The woman exhaled and turned, moving to stand next to the window. "I possess half a maiden's powers, and this is what I've been reduced to..."
Weiss didn't know what a maiden was, but it sounded important. She tilted her head curiously. "Professor?"
Cinder turned back to gaze upon her student. A slight shake of her head later, she continued. "Nothing, Weiss. Nothing. Yes, you are... correct in your depiction of mating. Or as humans call it, sex. The... lower horn, as you put it, is called a penis. It is important that you remember these names for when you are living among humans."
Penis? What an odd word. Regardless, Weiss took the advice to heart. It was indeed important to be able to mimic human behavior. As the undisputed Master of Slang among her peers, she would be certain to remember the penis.
"I understand this part of the process. But how does this act result in the creation of a child? Is so much damage done by the lower- by the penis that the female's healing system becomes confused and constructs a whole new version of herself, fearing that there has been too much damage done to the body to save it?"
For several seconds Cinder stared at her. For several more seconds she merely blinked. Perhaps her teacher was impressed by her deductive reasoning abilities? After all, guessing correctly on the first try was an impressive enough feat for anyone. Even the top student in the academy.
"I suppose it makes sense that you were never properly taught about the birds and the bees..." Cinder said with a sigh. "But why sexual education falls upon me..."
"There are birds involved?" Weiss asked confusedly. Then it hit her. It all made perfect sense. She had been correct all along. "Of course! The snipe!"
"Snipe?"
Weiss nodded forcefully. "Yes. Now where do the bees fit into this?"
This was fascinating new information. Weiss was ecstatic that she had been correct about the snipe being a part of the mating process. But bees? Like Lancers? She had no idea how they fit into the equation.
"Weiss," Cinder started slowly. She sounded tired. The way she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples with her fingers seemed to confirm the hybrid's suspicions. "It would seem that we really need to have a proper talk about this. One that does not involve the material covered in... that," she nodded to the movie Weiss held.
Weiss clutched it closer to her chest, fearing that Cinder did not approve of it. That she might take the wonderful documentary away from her. What was wrong with it, anyway? It was a perfect depiction of human society and mating, after all. If the contents of that movie weren't educational, she didn't know what was.
"I would very much enjoy a proper lesson," Weiss agreed eagerly. "Shall we begin now?"
A hand came up, silencing Weiss before she could ask any further questions. "No. No, not now. Soon, though. I have... disciples who would be better with this conversation than myself. Yes. Real, actual human teenagers that serve me who would be more than willing to speak to you about... this."
Weiss felt her heart swell. Humans her own age who would be willing to help her learn more about the sex? What a dream come true! "Thank you, Professor Fall. I understand that you are already quite busy with your own work, so I would be honored if your disciples would aid us in this matter."
"Indeed. Now until they arrive, let us not speak of this matter again. After all, we must focus on the current curriculum."
Cinder was correct. As much as she wanted to learn more about the human mating process, for strictly educational purposes only, there was indeed the regular material to focus on.
"Thank you for your time, Professor," Weiss said with a polite bow. "I look forward to meeting your associates."
"And I'm sure they will be absolutely thrilled to meet you for this... conversation."
Weiss nodded, and prepared to turn and leave. "Have a good night, Professor."
A tired hum was what she received in return. Cinder must have been tired. Weiss felt a little bit bad about disturbing her.
However, there was a new spring in her step as she left the woman's room an strode down the hall. Ever thirsty for knowledge, Weiss had arranged to learn even more. To learn more than Ruby, Blake, and even Yang! And with that newfound knowledge she would... she would...
She didn't quite know what she would do with that knowledge once she learned it. All she knew was that she wanted to learn. Knowledge was power, after all. That was what Professor Watts always said.
Power to dominate. Power to be in control. Even over the strongest of her peers.
The Faunus Fever movie was still gripped tightly in her tiny hands. Perhaps she should pay Professor Callows another visit soon. She desired more educational material. Another movie night would be fun.
Then again, even if she viewed it alone there was still so much knowledge that could be gleaned from it.
What a productive day it had been!
Ruby was finishing up drying herself after stepping out of the shower. She was nice and clean, smelling like some sort of strange flower thanks to the shampoo she used. It was pleasant enough, and Jaune had agreed when she had asked about it. If he thought it smelled good, then she would continue using it.
She on the other hand much preferred natural smells. The natural smell of his body in particular was nice. It was one of the reasons she loved snuggling up so close to him when they slept. His wonderful aroma. His strong arms around her made her feel warm. Safe. Secure. She couldn't understand why it made her feel good. After all, she was an apex predator. She had no enemies which were a true threat to her. Even the strongest of her peers like Yang and Weiss would never actually desire to kill her. Yet on some sort of primal level, the protective embrace of her bestie and roomie made her feel good.
There were times when he gave off particularly strong scents, often when there were extremely violent or stressful situations taking place. She wondered if it was some sort of natural pheromone produced by the body as a result to the fight or flight response kicking in.
After dressing herself in her underwear and his old shirt, Ruby stepped out into their room to see Jaune sitting at the desk. A pen was in his hand, writing something down on a sheet of paper.
She crept up behind him, her soft feet making no sound on the hardwood floor. "Whatcha doing?" she asked as she peered over his shoulder.
He jumped slightly in surprise at the sound of her voice. Setting the pen down, he turned back to look up at her. "Just writing a letter to my mom-"
For some reason he cut himself off after uttering that last word. His blue eyes went wide for a fraction of a second, and he turned back away from her.
Ruby's tongue darted out to wet her lips. That familiar scent of his had seemed to spike in intensity again.
"Mom?" she asked curiously, before it finally struck her. "Oh, you mean Salem."
After a few seconds of silence, she saw the back of his head move as he nodded. "Yeah. Salem," he agreed.
Salem was all of their mothers, after all, so it was only natural for him to refer to her as such.
Ruby wondered what it was about. Perhaps he wanted to ask something of her, and this was the only way he could do so. Salem was a very busy lady, after all. The downfall of humanity wouldn't just orchestrate itself.
"What are you writing to her about?" she asked. Bare feet shuffled nervously behind him. "If you don't mind me asking, that is."
She could always just peer over his shoulder and read the contents of the letter herself, but that would have been rude. An intrusion of her best friend, roommate, and cuddle buddy's privacy.
Jaune took the paper and folded it in half, preventing her from seeing what was on it even if she was so inclined to do so. "Just..." he started hesitantly. "Telling her how I feel. How I'm doing. How much I care about her."
Ruby couldn't stop the smile from erupting on her face. What a kind gesture to the woman who had given them this life. "That's so nice, Jaune!" she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and pressing her chest against his back. "I'm sure she'll love it!"
Salem really was so great. So strong. So intelligent. She had to be, living as long as she had. The only reason humanity still stood was because she so graciously allowed it. If she wanted to, she could easily wipe them off the face of the planet. Yet she allowed them to live, hoping that they would one day see her true greatness and willingly serve her. Some had already done so, like the professors in this academy. The others would learn in time. Whether they had to be forced or not.
"Maybe I should write a letter too," she continued. "That sounds like a really fun idea."
Jaune turned back, peering up at her with hopeful eyes. "It does?"
"Yeah! I could tell her how much I love and admire her. I'm sure she'd love hearing that from her children."
He continued to stare at her, and soon his parted lips curled up into a small smile of their own. "You know what, Ruby? I think that's a great idea too."
She nodded in agreement. "Yeah! Do you have any more paper?"
The boy stood up, and motioned over to a small stack of blank paper sitting on the edge of the desk. "Plenty. You should definitely think about all the things you love and treasure in this world. Things you love. People who you love. Like Yang."
It was strange. Ruby knew that she should hate the concept of love. She should hate the very word. Love, after all, was a positive quality. Lust would have been a far more appropriate term to use. Lust was selfish. A base desire which spoke to hybrids on a primal level.
Yet, love didn't seem so bad. Love in fact seemed good. Was it because of her condition?
Or was it because of who had said it?
In any case, she would do just that. She would tell Salem just how much she loved and appreciated her.
"That's a great idea," she agreed. "Salem's gonna get the best letters ever from us!"
Jaune nodded. "Yup. It's really going to help out with our lessons too. We're trying to act more human, after all. What better way than to think about all the people we love?"
He was right. No wonder he was one of the top students in the school.
Jaune placed a hand on her shoulder and urged her to sit in the seat he had just been occupying. "We should all do it. Weiss too, when she gets back. Even Blake and Yang. We should all start to... find our inner humanity. And I think these letters are a great start."
Ruby nodded excitedly. "Yeah! This is going to be so much fun! I have so much on my mind right now, I can't wait to get it all on paper!"
She really did, too. It wasn't just the love for Salem she felt in her heart. It was emotion she felt for her big sister. For Weiss, even if the other girl would never admit to being her friend. The amount of time they had spent together over the past several weeks cemented it in her mind. Weiss could talk a big game, but the fact that she hung around with Ruby all day every day proved that her positivity wasn't that big of a determent.
And then there was Jaune. A boy who had become her first friend. Her best friend. Her roommate. And... maybe more?
Author's Note: So we have some new cover art, drawn by the very talented RKS-Kogiro. You should definitely check out their work for more awesome RWBY art. The piece was commissioned by Lightningstrxu and myself, and the pose was Lightning's idea. So if you want to thank him, you should definitely go read some of his stuff. His Dragonslayer story Last Resort just updated today. What a perfect opportunity!
Anyway, this chapter was a lot of fun to do. A lot was learned, and a lot was set up. The upcoming chapters are going to be really... exciting.
As always my thanks go out to Lightning and Burkion for their continued support. Their help and influence are the only reason these chapters continue to come out on a weekly basis.
And of course, my thanks go out to all of you for continuing to read and review. I truly appreciate you all. I hope you enjoyed it.