"Dad, are you sure you'll be ok when I leave? I don't want you to be alone." Rayelle asked for what seemed like the fifteenth time making Qrow laugh.
"For the last time. Yes. I'll be fine. If I get that lonely I can just drop by for a visit. Which brings me to what I needed to talk to you about. Oz says I have another mission coming soon... it's going to be a long one, kid." He finished as Rayelle took her plate to the kitchen
"I always worry whenever you come back injured, I don't want to lose you." Rayelle said
"I really am sorry Ellie. But Oz has always helped me when I needed it in the past, especially with my semblance, now I try to help him." He explained with a serious expression before breaking into a smirk. "Besides! He knows your old man is the best of the best." He boasted
"It's just I barely see you." Rayelle said sadly
"I know you're worried about me, but I promise it's gonna be okay." Qrow put his hand on his daughter's shoulder and looked her in the eyes, both felt the knowing pain of the distance Qrow's job did to both of them.
"Stay safe okay," Rayelle said
"I should be telling you that." Qrow said
Rayelle laughs and she closes the door
...
The airship was packed full of students, everyone eager to see what Beacon would be like. Rayelle wanted to take a nap so she had moved to the far back and leaned against the wall.
"Oh my gosh! Do my eyes deceive me?!" A voice yelled out
"Huh?" Rayelle said as she turns around
"ELLIE!" A girl yelled as she ran towards her
"Wait Nora c-calm down!" Rayelle said, waving her hands back and forth
It was too late and Nora tackles her into a hug, "It's so good to see you." Nora said
"It's good to see you too." Rayelle said
Rayelle narrows her eyes at Ren as he begins to smile. "Ren?"
"You... remember me?" Ren asked, a little surprise.
"Of course I do silly." Rayelle replied, stepping closer and wrapped her arms around Ren for a hug.
"So how long have you been at Beacon?" Ren asked
"Believe it or not this is actually my first year." Rayelle answered
"Oh look at us, the three musketeers are back again!" Nora yelled as she playfully punched Rayelle's shoulder
Rayelle laughs, "It's so good to see you guys." She said
The moment was promptly ruined as a blonde hair guy sprinted by holding his mouth and gagging before throwing up. Followed by lots of shouting in disgust as Ren, Nora and Rayelle shared a look before laughing. Beacon certainly was going to be interesting.
Ren's chest tightened up as his heart started pounding like a jackhammer. He smiles and returns the hug, enjoying these butterfly feelings returning.
...
The airship docked at the port to Beacon and students began rushing off quickly, excited to begin their new lives.
"You guys go on ahead." Rayelle said
The guy who was sick earlier ran to the nearest bucket and started heaving again, before groaning in relief.
"Hey man you alright?" Rayelle asked
Vomit boy let out a sigh of relief, "I'm fine now, just a little motion sickness"
Rayelle raised her eyebrow, "A little?"
"Okay maybe a lot", Vomit boy finally stood up straight and regained his composure, "The name's Jaune Arc", he said, extending his hand
"I'm Rayelle Branwen but my friends call me Ellie or El", Rayelle took Jaune's extended hand and shook it, "Anyway Jaune, looks like we've been left behind". Sure enough, they were the only students still around the airship.
"Then let us go forth, my good woman, and discover the wonders of this Academy!" He gesticulated dramatically before marching off.
Rayelle simply sighed and followed suit. Not long after, the duo came upon the red headed girl from earlier, lying on her back in what appeared to be a...crater?
"Look, a damsel in distress!" He immediately shot off to the girl's "rescue" before Rayelle could say a thing.
"Ruby?" Rayelle asked
Ruby turns around sees her cousin, "ELLIE!" She cried jumping at her and hugging her tightly.
Rayelle laughed, hugging her back. "It's good to see you too cuz. Speaking of which, why are you at Beacon? Aren't you supposed to still be at Signal?"
Ruby's eyes widened and got bashful, poking her fingers together, "It's a long story." Ruby said
"You two know each other?" Jaune asked
"Yeah, she's my cousin." Rayelle said
"You guys are cousins?" Jaune asked in shock
"Uh, yeah—" Ruby and Rayelle said
Jaune looks at the both of them, "You know what now I see it now" He said
Ruby gestured to Jaune, "Aren't you the guy that threw up on the ship?"
The newly formed trio walked into the campus grounds, trying to find their way around.
Jaune ranted, "All I'm saying is that motion sickness is a much more common problem than people let on."
"Look, I'm sorry! Vomit Boy was the first thing that came to mind." Ruby laughed
"Oh, yeah? What if I called you Crater Face?" Jaune asked
"He's got a point." Rayelle said
"Hey, that explosion was an accident!" Ruby said
"Well, the name's Jaune Arc! Short, sweet, rolls off the tongue - ladies love it!"
"Do they?" Ruby/Rayelle asked skeptical
"They will! Well, I-I hope they will. My mom always says that... Never mind." Jaune said
Ruby giggles before a short, awkward silence falls, "So... I got this thing!" She pulls out Crescent Rose and stabs it into the ground.
"Whoa! Is that a scythe?" Jaune asked
"It's also a customizable high-impact sniper rifle!" Ruby said
"A-wha...?" Jaune asked confused
"It's also a gun." Rayelle said
"Oh. That's cool!" Jaune said
"So what've you got?" Ruby asked
"Oh! I, uh..." Jaune unsheathes a blade, "I got this sword!"
"Ooooohh!"
"Yeah, and I've got a shield, too!" He gets his scabbard, raises his arm and expands the metal into his defense
"So, what do they do?" Ruby asked touching his shield
Jaune fumbles with the shield as it retracts off his arm, expands, and retracts again before putting it back in place and finally shrinking it down for good, placing it on his belt, "The shield gets smaller, so when I get tired of carrying it, I can just... put it away..."
"But... wouldn't it weigh the same?" Rayelle asked
"Yeah, it does..." Jaune said
"Well, I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons, sooo... I guess I did go a little overboard when designing it." Ruby giggled
"Wait - you made that?!" Jaune asked in shock
"Of course! All students at Signal forge their own weapons! Didn't you make yours?" Rayelle asked
"It's a hand-me-down. My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the war." Jaune said
"Sounds more like a family heirloom to me! Well, I like it! Not many people have an appreciation for the classics these days." Ruby said
Jaune sheathing his sword, "Yeah, the classics... What about you, Rayelle?"
"Well I have this", Rayelle she unsheathed the giant blade she had been carrying all this time
"You have two swords?" Jaune asked
"Yep my main sword is Inferno and my backup weapon is Suibian." Rayelle explained
"Suibian?" Jaune asked
"It's Chinese for whatever." Rayelle said
"So why'd you both help me out back there? In the courtyard?" Ruby asked moving on
Jaune walked alongside them, "Eh, why not? My mom always says, 'Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet.'"
"Hmm." Ruby looks around, "Hey, where are we going?"
"Oh, I don't know! I was following you two. Y-You think there might be a directory? Maybe a food court? Some sort of recognizable landmark? Is, uh... Is that a 'no'?" Jaune asked
"That's a 'no'." Rayelle laughed
