The morning in Beacon Academy was a nice and quiet affair, with the gentle hum of students sleeping away in dream land. The sun's golden rays filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the ball room. However, the tranquility was abruptly shattered as a sudden ear- shattering outburst jolted Ilene from her peaceful slumber.
"ITS MORNING! ITS MORNING! ITS MORNING! ITS MORNING! "
As the voice kept yelling Ilene reluctantly peeled her heavy eyelids open, only to be greeted by an exuberant redhead bouncing with excitement. It was the same girl who had attempted to snag her dessert the previous day. Ilene sighed, realizing that this energetic presence was now pestering her friend, who seemed just as unenthusiastic about the early hour. He rubbed the remnants of sleep from his eyes while packing up his sleeping bag.
Ilene looked to her right and noticed that Raven's daughter was still fast asleep, completely oblivious to the world around her. Curiosity piqued, she glanced to her left and discovered an empty sleeping bag that hadn't been there the previous night. Perplexed, she couldn't recall anyone occupying that spot before.
Shrugging off the mystery, Ilene rose from her own sleeping bag and stretched, feeling the anticipation of the day ahead. With determination in her heart, she was ready to embark on her journey towards Beacon, eager to prove her worth.
She was ready to kill some monsters.
--
Verdo felt a sudden jolt on his shoulder, causing him to shoot up in a defensive stance. As he looked around, he saw Jaune standing there in his blue onesie, holding his hands up innocently, while Charlie stood behind him, observing the situation with curiosity. Verdo sighed and removed his ear plugs and nose plugs.
"Morning, guys," Verdo greeted, stretching his body. As the cacophony of scents and sounds from the other students assaulted him, Jaune couldn't help but ask, "What's with the nose plugs?"
Verdo replied with a hint of weariness in his voice, "It's hard to sleep at night when even the slightest noise or smell can disturb your peace. It's like never getting a moment of rest."
His two friends nodded in understanding as Charlie patted them on their backs with his giant hands. "Well, you guys ready for initiation?" he asked. Jaune perked up happily, his excitement palpable enough for Verdo to hear his heart beating as if it were right next to his ears.
"Heck yeah, I've wanted this ever since I was little," the blonde exclaimed as they made their way to the boys' locker rooms. The unpleasant smell of early bowel movements and musky boy scent made Verdo's nose recoil.
While his friends got themselves pumped up and excited, Verdo supposed they had every right to be. And that, in turn, made him happy for them.
"My dad was a huntsman and my grandfather too. Heck I even have ancestors on that statue out front in the courtyard. I have a lot of expectations for myself." Jaune said as he grabbed his armor. Sliding his arms through
his straps.
"You too?" Verdo asked as he pulled out his leather jacket sliding it over his shoulders as they donned their armor and clothes respectfully.
"Oh yeah you said your dad was an Atlas specialist." Charlie said recalling their conversations at lunch and before bed.
He knew how stuffy and by the book Atlas could be and so it was obvious that if Verdos' father was an Atlasiean specialist he likely had lofty expectations for his son as well something Charlie wished he had from his own. Or anything from his own father.
"Oh yeah so you know what it's like growing up with a huntsman for a parent." Jaune said as he latched on his last armor piece and Verdo put on his shoulder pauldron emblazoned with his symbol of two animal eyes in a patch of black fur with a white stripe between them before Verdo nodded.
"Yeah I know it's such a drag."
"So awesome." said Jaune at the same time and they stared at each other awkwardly over their differing opinions.
"Uhhhhhh," Charlie stared between them and then said
"Come on , guys let's go get breakfast, yeah?"
Verdo looked between them and agreed.
"Yeah come on we'll have enough grimm to kill when we get to the initiation."
"Wait, we're killing grimm on our first day?" Jaune asked suddenly feeling worried.
"Yeah it is what we've been training for this day you know." Verdo said as he slammed his locker door shut. Yet he was still able to hear Jaunes heart skipping a beat or two at hearing that.
"Yeah and we better start it off with a good meal." Charlie agreed as he pushed jaune along and while they got ahead verdo took the moment to pull out a silver flask and take a hearty swig of Fadish whiskey before he felt the alcohol affecting his senses making things not so sharp as they were a moment ago.
Before he chased after his two friends.
--
Lie Ren walked through the cafeteria line, selecting a plate of stacked pancakes, while his best friend Nora continued to talk incessantly, as she had been doing all morning. He didn't mind her being the talker for both of them since he rarely had much to say himself. Having a constant companion like Nora was comforting to him.
Taking his seat, Lie Ren began cutting his pancakes, while Nora eagerly devoured hers next to him. Their friendship had stood the test of time, and Nora talked with a mouthful of pancakes about their plans to become a team. Not that Lie Ren would be without a team if it weren't for her; Nora would never let him be alone, not that he minded.
"(Muffled by a mouthful of pancakes)Oh hey Ren have you heard people have been saying?"She asked past a mush of syrup and flour confections in her mouth before swallowing " That Beacons haunted?"
Ren raised a brow behind his pink highlight as Nora explained in her usual exuberant fashion.
"People keep talking about bumping into someone that wasn't there or forgetting things like their memories were stolen. Also getting cold chills or seeing someone one second hanging around other people before poof she disappears. Wouldn't that be cool to be a ghost? We'd be able to just go in and out of things like poof, maybe someones just pranking with their semblance (gaaaaaaasp) that would be so cool don't you think Ren ?!"
She asked him with a brimming smile but before he could even give his response she was already talking about teams once more.
He liked that she could keep herself entertained but it was likely she was right someone was likely playing with their
semblance to make people see things or something similar.
"Oh! Maybe we should ask a priest to bless us so the ghost doesn't bother us and ruin our chances of getting into Beacon?!"
He rolled his eyes at her idea. He doubted Beacon was haunted. Though he had no doubts at all that students had died while attending Beacon.
Ren did not doubt his skills and he knew that as long as he had Nora He'd have someone to watch his back and he would do the same for her.
"We should come up with a plan!" Nora said making him smile lightly her plans were always amusing if a little nonsensical. But that was what he loved about her imagination and free spirit she was his complete contrast as he was hers.
Her craziness filled him with joy when he got to into himself and he kept her grounded when she got too crazy. He truly hoped they did become partners. He also held little doubts that if they didn't she would still do her best to stay close to him and he would be grateful for it even if his face didn't show it.
--
"Wow, we get to eat like this every day?!" As Ruby happily served herself a plate of pancakes, she exclaimed,
On the other hand, Yang, not a morning person, struggled to wake up and propped herself up with her hands above her breakfast. Ruby, with her vibrant red cape flowing behind her, looked around at everyone enjoying their meal. She sighed at her sister's laziness, noticing even her golden flaming hair lacked its usual luster. Despite Yang's grogginess, Ruby remained optimistic, urging her sister to wake up and seize the day.
"Oh, come on, Yang, wake up! We're gonna get to go and prove our stuff," Ruby exclaimed with excitement, trying to shake her sleepy sister out of her morning daze.
"Huh? Oh, yeah," Yang mumbled groggily, finally starting to wake up. Before she just adjusted herself onto her other arm to sleep on. making Ruby sigh.
"Not a morning person, is she?" someone remarked, catching Ruby's attention. Turning around, she saw Jaune, Verdo, and Charlie approaching them. Their presence seemed to perk up Yang a little, now that she had company. More specifically company that had coffee.
"Hey guys," Ruby greeted the gentle giant, the blonde knight, and the skunk boy, glad to see some of the friends she had made yesterday. Hopefully, they didn't think too poorly of her.
"Hey crater face," Verdo greeted the little rose before pushing a cup of coffee to Yang, who smiled in return.
"My hero," she said, sipping the coffee and regaining some color in her cheeks. Unbeknownst to her, Charlie was sending her longing looks from as she was starting to glow in the sunshine.
"Oh, you won't be calling me that when you see me kicking butt with my baby today."Ruby said but leaving Jaune, puzzled, he questioned her, "Your baby?"
Yang's smile widened as she affectionately rubbed her sister's hair, replying, "Her scythe, Crescent Rose. She loves it like it's her child. I've even caught her sleeping with it."
Verdo looked at the girls, a nostalgic smile creeping across his face as their banter reminded him of home and his 22 siblings. Ruby, embarrassed by Yang's comment, playfully swiped her hand away. Jaune stumbled onto the table, clearly intrigued by the conversation, while Charlie sat next to him, casting glances towards the blonde girl.
"Hey, I'm glad you guys are here," Yang looked over at the trio who had begun eating and now had their attention on her. "I never thanked you guys for looking out for my kid sister yesterday."
Charlie wanted to say that it was nothing, but Ruby beat him to it.
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't have needed them to help me if you hadn't ditched me," Ruby chastised her sister, who shrugged her off with a nonchalant tone of voice.
"Okay maybe I shouldn't have ditched you."She admitted but she didn't sound wholly sorry. " But you still need to make your own friends again and look you made three."
She nodded to the boys in front of her.The giant puffball, the scraggily knight, And the faunus looking to the far table.
Where he could see Weiss was sitting by herself eating her perfectly balanced breakfast with the grace and dignity of a debutante. He could see her every movement perfectly and tell what she was eating and smell her perfectly from here.
He could find that scent of dust and lavender in the bloidest of feilds, and on the windiest of days.
"HELLOOO."
"Sorry, what were you saying?" Verdo asked, his tone of voice shifting from a distant daydream to attentive as Yang snapped him back to reality from his staring of his former.
"I was thanking you guys for helping my sister, after Ruby's unexpected explosion in front of the school," Yang said, while Ruby playfully stuck her tongue out at her. She added, with a joking tone, "If you couldn't tell, she sometimes struggles to break out of her shell."
Verdo said teasingly, "Oh really, I'd never have guessed," while enjoying his sausages, biscuits, and gravy. His tone of voice hinted at amusement as he continued, "She just encountered a girl with... an icy disposition."
Yang looked at him, a sudden recollection of that crabby girl. "Oh yeah, her," She said, her voice filled with a hint of annoyance and indifference.
"You never did tell us what your beef with her was," Jaune said, leaning closer to the Faunus. Even Ruby and Charlie were a little curious, after seeing spectacle that happened yesterday after He'd flown into her.
"Yeah, after you came flying through the air, the look she was giving was like she wanted to stab you through your eyes and wear your head like a festive hat," Yang said, adding some more coffee to her cup.
"Shed look cute in black and white," Jaune said, casting his own glance Weiss's way. While Verdo ignored how his friend thought the girl in question would look good wearing his head like an accessory.
"Guys it's...personal." Verdo said picking at his food with his fork. Trying to pay no mind to their interested looks.
"Oh no, I'm more interested," Yang said, leaning towards him, her gossip and curious nature getting the better of her. After years of being the queen bee at Signal, she could sense there was more to the story than just personal matters. Of course, it was personal, but she wanted to get to know her sister's new friends. There had been a few who had pretended to be her kid sister's friends just to get close to her status or to ogle her.
And years of this gave her a good sense for drama.
Verdo, feeling uneasy, pleaded, "Hey, I'd rather not get into this before initiation, please."
Sensing his discomfort, Ruby quickly came to his rescue, understanding the significance of the subject to him.
"Yeah, come on, let's leave the drama for after we kick butt in the initiation!" Ruby, displaying her usual optimism, stood up on her chair, her voice filled with determination.
"Alright, alright, I'll drop it," Yang conceded, setting aside her interest at her sisters request. "We better eat this breakfast before we get called up for it." She pulled her plate closer, focusing on her meal.
"Do you know what it'll be?" Jaune asked, his voice filled with curiosity at what their initiation could even be. Since his dad said every year was different but still centered around combat.
"Hey big guy, mind passing me the syrup?"Yang asked Charlie and Without uttering a word, the large boy picked up the syrup dispenser and handed it to her. As their eyes met, Yang reciprocated with a small smile, causing a melting sensation in Charlie's body. His gaze locked into her violet eyes, captivated by the moment.
"Thanks," She smiled at him making his heart thunder so loud that Verdo barely heard Charlie give a hum back in response.
Veridian knew who the gentle giant would be crushing on the rest of their tenure at Beacon.
"No clue," Verdo said with a shrug and a bite of his sausages, "but it will require us to put all the skills we learned in our prep school to use."
Jaune winced a little, while Verdo listened attentively to his heart it sounded(bum bum..bum..bum) ...ashamed?
"Yeah, and I'm so eager to get started because this is what I've wanted forever. We'll get to fight monsters, go on adventures, and be heroes!" Ruby exclaimed with excitement.
They watched as Ruby fangirled over the idea of becoming a huntress, finding it adorable. Jaune shared the same look of amazement in his eyes. As he had the same desire to be a hero.
"Down ruby down." Yang said seizing her sister by the cape before tugging her back into her chair.
"We're all excited about becoming huntsmen and huntresses."
The table began filling with more laughter and camaraderie. As they talk about the challenges they would face. That would shape them into formidable warriors with their newfound friends.
As they all just kept, Charlie couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging in this small group, reminiscent of the warmth and chaos of his own home. With his newfound comrades by his side, he felt ready to forge his own path and leave his mark on the world, just as Ruby did with her beloved Crescent Rose.
"Would all first-year applicants please head to the locker rooms to prepare for initiation," Ms. Goodwitch's stoic voice came over. The mood seemed to change, and Ruby shot up happily, ready to kill some monsters.
"Awwww yeah!", she leaped up, scattering rose petals in a flurry as she gracefully vanished and reappeared at the door. Her whole being was filled with enthusiasm and eagerness as she called out, "Come on, guys, let's go!"
With a surprised gasp, Jaune choked on his biscuit as Ruby transformed into a whirlwind of rose petals. Charles quickly wrapped his large arm around Jaune's waist, exerting a strong pull that sent a chunk of prechewed biscuit sailing across the table and landing in the blue hair of a girl seated opposite them. As she turned around, Charles flashed a sheepish grin, patting Jaune's back in reassurance.
The tall girl with vibrant blue hair seemed on the verge of losing her temper, as Verdo noticed her eyes briefly dart towards the staff.As though she was contemplating freaking out over this was worth the trouble. However, she managed to regain her composure, casually flicking a biscuit from her hair before grabbing her tray and stomping off.
"Nice first impression, up chuck,"
Verdo sarcastically remarked, fully aware that the girl wasn't fond of Jaune. The boy shot his friend a glare before they all hurriedly followed Ruby, who had already taken the lead towards the lockers. Eager and filled with excitement, the four of them trailed behind the other students.
--
"UGGGH EW"
Ilene's voice dripped with disgust as she plucked yet another masticated biscuit from her hair and disdainfully discarded it into the trash.
Of course, with her rotten luck lately, she would run into that kid of little Mrs.'s again. Not only that, but he'd have his friend blow a chewed-up biscuit in her hair. It seemed like nothing was going right ever since she got into this school. Why were so many people from her past here?
With a mixture of frustration and disbelief, she couldn't help but speculate that whatever gods were out there must have a personal vendetta against her. It seemed like an absurd string of misfortune had befallen her within a mere twenty-four hours. As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt someone bump into her. Turning to her right, she was met with the sight of the big lug once again, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He opened his locker and retrieved a pair of oversized armor gauntlets meant for the whole of his large arms.
"Hehehe, sorry locker mate," the boy said sheepishly. Though if he may have recognized her from the few times she accompanied Raven to Mistral, he didn't let it show. Instead, he wore an innocent little smile that disarmed those around the seven-foot giant.
But she knew different. This "boy" had a reputation.
Rumor had it he'd crushed a mans skull with his bare hands.
But perhaps thats why he was here...to escape.
In an attempt to determine if he shared the same desire of pretending their past didn't exist, Ilene glanced at him, took a deep breath, and greeted him with a captivating bedroom smile. With her hands expertly opening her locker to retrieve Fenrir, she gracefully swayed around his imposing figure and flashed another smile, while expressing, "Hey, no problem, sweetie... good luck out there." Her tone of voice conveyed a friendly and supportive demeanor.
With a nervous blush, the big guy stammered, "Uh, thanks," in a somewhat dumbfounded as he complimented.
"Nice chakrams." conveying a genuine appreciation for their impressive design.
Ilene smiled warmly at the comment before she let out a light giggle, playfully swiping a strand of her vibrant blue hair away from her face.
"Thanks," she responded with a friendly tone, "I didn't catch your name, sweetie."
She believed that exerting additional pressure would coax him into revealing whether he recognized her. In an attempt to manipulate the situation, she leaned down, pretending to adjust the straps on her boots. This deliberate angle provided him with an ample view down her top.
She could practically hear his nervousness as he answered.
"Uhhh, I'm Cleav- CHARLIE!" Charlie exclaimed.
He vigorously shook his head, attempting to rid his mind of intrusive thoughts. Ilene couldn't help but smirk, finding amusement in how effortlessly she could manipulate him.
"You?" he asked, his voice trembling as he fidgeted aimlessly with the contents of his empty locker. He desperately sought a distraction, anything to divert his attention. Meanwhile, she stood up adjusting her bra, she tugged at it, ensuring a proper fit for her breasts.
"Ilene," she said with a smile, as though she wasn't just adjusting her girls, attempting to jog his memory,by letting something slip past his gaurd. However, it appeared more likely that he was on the verge of a heart attack. His luck with ladies seemed unfortunate if he could be swayed so easily.
"You alright?"She asked feigning concern placing a hand upon his shoulder." You look a little red. Do you want to go get some water?"
In a secluded spot where they could talk privately.And as she held his arm she noticed how his seemingly flabby arms held impressive muscle underneath.
"UUUUHH NO I JUST NEED SOME FRESH AIR! I'll see you at initiation!" He practically screamed as he ran away from her like she was grimm herself.
Ilene watched him depart, a sneer forming on her face as she muttered, "Hmm, it seems like we'll be having that chat another time."
--
Across the locker room Verdo glanced over Dante and Virgil, satisfied that they had ample dust and ammunition and were functioning properly without the need for a test fire. Still looking over a huntsmans mechashift weapons was meticulous work even with his enhanced vision.
He listened to the shifting gears making sure they rotated and moved properly or needed oiling.However, his attention was abruptly interrupted as he felt a gentle bump on his shoulder. He turned to see Jaune gazing at him, holding up a piece of paper.
"Hey Verd, have you seen locker 636?" Jaune asked, clearly lost. Veridian shook his head, unable to help his friend. Jaune walked off to search for his locker, and Veridian lightly shook his head at his clueless companion.
As Jaune walked off Veridian looked around, he retrieved his flask of whiskey from his locker, deciding to hide it there temporarily, knowing he needed to stay focused. After putting it away and closing the locker, someone abruptly collided with him from behind.
In that moment, Veridian entered an enhanced state,increasing his reaction time. And as if time slowed down he could see books suspended midair, catching a glimpse of a monochromatic lolita with tights, a twitching bow, and dark ebony locks.And Surprised, cat-like eyes met his Dark green badger eyes as her books slipped from her grasp.
But his arms were also enhanced with extraordinary speed and swiftly intercepted the falling objects, skillfully catching and stacking them in his hands before they could even reach the ground. The movement was seamless and effortless. As he completed this impressive feat, Her gaze locked onto him, a mix of surprise and curiosity evident in her eyes.
"Sorry 'bout that," He said, wincing as his head throbbed from overuse from the extra . He handed her back her books, his voice strained.
"You again," she accepted the books, her tone curious.
"You again?" he questioned, stepping into her personal space and whispering, his voice filled with intrigue, "The girl in hiding."
As he observed her, he noticed her body tense up, prompting him to raise his hand in a gesture of reassurance.
"Hey, it's none of my business what you choose to keep secret... or read," he said, glancing at the titles of her books. Among them was "Ninjas of Love," a well-known erotic novel.
Which she tried to hide, as he kept speaking.
"I've had my fair share of ...certain experiences too, so no need to worry. Whatever your reasons may be, they're yours alone." As he said this, he placed a finger to his lips, signaling his agreement to secrecy. "Mums the word, Kit Kat," he whispered assuring her.
As she looked him up and down, seemingly assessing him, she nodded appreciatively and walked away. He watched her departure, his gaze lingering on her figure, particularly her tights. However, his attention was abruptly diverted when he heard someone shouting loudly.
"Uh oh, someone's upset weiss...I better go watch." He remarked with a sinister smirk, his tone betraying a mischievous delight.
--
(Moments ago)
Jaune, determined to retrieve his weapons,finally located his locker. In the midst of arming himself, he caught sight of the snow-haired angel, a person with whom his friend Verdo had a complicated history.
Aware of the unspoken bro code that discouraged pursuing someone your friend doesn't like, Jaune hesitated. However, he considered a more casual approach and remembered his father's advice on interacting with girls:
"Just be confident."He said to himself and with his family sword securely fastened to his belt, Jaune mustered his courage and approached the snow angel, who was engaged in conversation with a tall, striking redhead adorned in bronze armor.
--
(A few more moments ago)
Weiss methodically examined Myrtenaster, ensuring its proper functionality, while spinning it in her hand making sure the dust rotations was perfect . Her focused demeanor reflected a meticulous approach as she mentally explored various initiation scenarios of what beacons head master could throw their way.
.
She knew it would involve grimm. And a show casing of her skills.
She also knew they would have partners today, so she had to ensure that Cad Veridian stayed clear of her. She couldn't believe that he followed her, not that he'd ever admit it. She knew him well enough to know that he would do just that.
With determination and a strong sense of responsibility, she prioritized maintaining her image and achieving academic excellence.
And despite the presence of Veridians distractions, she refused to let any rogue elements interfere with her goals. As she surveyed the locker room, her gaze focused on identifying potential partner candidates.
As she surveyed the locker rooms, she noted beacons diverse group of applicants. While some seemed capable complementing her skills and combat abilities, she knew that appearances could be misleading. For instance, there was that little girl conversing with her disproportionate in the chest area sister. Talking about something she could barely hear.
"I seriously think Beacon is haunted, Yang," the little one said, and Weiss rolled her eyes in response . Ofcourse she would beleive that.
"I thought I said no late-night haunted movie marathons with Dad anymore, Rubes," Yang said, slightly teasing her sister, as she slapped on Ember Celica.
"No, really!" Ruby yelled before defending herself. "I saw a girl standing out on the balcony last night when I woke up to pee. And when I double-checked, she was gone, like she hadn't even been there. She was so pale and looked like a ghost. People have been saying they've been bumping into things that aren't there and then saying they've seen a pale girl before she disappears. I swear, everywhere I go, I keep seeing her out of the corner of my eyes." Ruby's voice was filled with a mix of fear and conviction as she recounted her eerie experience.
"No way, me too! I thought I was crazy for a moment," exclaimed Yang. She felt releived that she hadn't been the only one seeing things.
With a determined pass, Weiss dismissed the idea of being burdened by a child or a stereotypical blonde bimbo. She continued her search for a suitable companion, finding little promise until she laid eyes on a familiar face she had witnessed in action and met within high-class social circles. Adjusting her combat skirt and securing Myrtenaster on her waist, Weiss closed her locker with a confident smile, striding purposefully towards Pyrrha Nikos.
--
Pyrrha couldn't be happier to be at Beacon. Despite her fame and skill, she was determined not to let it hinder her chance to make genuine friendships. It was only the first day, so she didn't expect to have an overwhelming number of friends. However, she was captivated by the uniqueness of everyone she met, and it filled her with hope. All she longed for was to be part of a team and finally have some true companionship after what felt like an eternity.
But first, she needed to find a good partner, preferably one who didn't see her solely as a champion of Mistral. As she happily adjusted her bronze and leather corset, and tightening her red sash around her waist, getting ready for initiation, she heard a familiar voice.
"Pyrrha hello," the champion turned to see a fellow famous figure, Weiss Schnee. Pyrrha had been delighted and a little surprised when she knew Weiss had come to beacon instead of Atlas.
"Oh hello Weiss, it's good to see you here," she said with a smile. It was nice to see someone she actually knew, although she would've preferred someone not as famous as herself.
"I had noticed you earlier, but I didn't get a chance to speak with you. How has your first day at Beacon been?" Weiss greeted cordially, geuinely interested in Pyrrhas first day of beacon.Pyrrha, wearing a smile, responded warmly, eager to share her experiences and impressions of the huntsman academy.
The experience of being in a kingdom, free from the pressures of competition, was undeniably exhilarating for her. The absence of constant scrutiny from the paparazzi allowed her to truly enjoy her surroundings without feeling hounded. She was utterly ecstatic to have a chance to go somewhere and embrace the moment without the intrusive presence of cameras.
"I strongly agree that it's wonderful to venture outside of one's home and immerse oneself in new cultures. Beacon Academy boasts some of the most talented huntsmen and huntresses in the field, making it an exceptional institution. While Atlas may excel in fostering teamwork, I personally found Beacon to be a more conducive environment for personal growth."
Weiss rambled on about the logistics of Beacon's graduation rates, seemingly focused on academic achievements. However, Pyrrha knew that her own reason for attending Beacon went beyond academics. Despite this, Weiss, being the perfectionist that Pyrrha knew her to be, wouldn't settle for anything less than the best education, which Beacon offered.
Despite Atlas having superior academic grades and better facilities, Pyrrha understood that Weiss, the heiress, had sought refuge in their presence to escape her own fame and demanding family. Pyrrha had a fair understanding of Weiss, as they had both participated in various competitions. Coming from a highly esteemed family with exceedingly high standards, Weiss's family life was far from pleasant, as Pyrrha recalled their encounters with her mother and father, who were anything but pleasant individuals.
"So Pyrrha," Weiss finally ceased her tirade on Beacon's scholastic ciriculum , she looked at Pyrrha with admiration.
"Have you given any thought to whose team you'd like to be on? I'm sure everyone must be eager to unite with such a strong, well-known individual such as yourself!"
Pyrrha sighed, recognizing that Weiss was undeniably a good person. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that Weiss's perfectionism might hinder her progress for personal growth. As one of the best trained young huntresses, Pyrrha knew she held Weiss's best chance at achieving a flawless career at Beacon.
"Hmm... I'm not quite sure. I was planning on letting the chips fall where they may." Despite her attempt to play it cool, Weiss persisted and asked Pyrrha what she truly wanted from her.
"Well... I was thinking maybe we could be on a team together." Weiss looked at her hopefully, and Pyrrha couldn't resist her good nature.
"Well, that sounds grand!" she said, forcing a smile.
"Great!"
Weiss beamed with pride, and Pyrrha turned back to her locker, trying to focus on the positives. She knew Weiss could be a bit high-maintenance and had high standards, but she also knew that, deep down, she was just a girl like her. Perhaps they could become true friends before all of this was over.
(Pyrrha's tone of voice is hopeful and optimistic.)
The background disappears into a thundercloud as Weiss adopts a scheming pose and manic smile in her head.
Pyrrha glanced at the scheming heiress with a cautious expression, observing her muttering about perfect grades.
However, before the situation escalated, someone abruptly inserted themselves between the two, causing the scheming girl to be cut off.
"You know what else is great? Me. Jaune Arc," he said smoothly, or at least attempting to be smooth. Despite his efforts obviously not having much effect on Weiss, he showed initiative in wanting to be around her. Which Pyrrha veiwed as a good sign of potential friendship.
"You again?!" Weiss shrieked, clearly irritated by the presence of the blonde. Pyrrha tried to position herself next to Weiss, hoping to divert his attention towards her and spare him Weiss's fury.
"Nice to meet you, Jaune!" she greeted, only to be abruptly pushed aside by the scruffy-haired blonde.
"Yeah, yeah. So, Weiss, I couldn't help but notice that we weren't properly introduced yesterday," Jaune said, moving closer to Weiss, who took a step back, sounding apprehensive.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Weiss droned, knowing already that this was some pathetic attempt to court her.
He asked her, "So, been hearing rumors about teams! I was thinking you and me would make a good one! What do you say?"
Pyrrha could tell Weiss wasn't interested, and she was the closest thing Pyrrha did have as a friend, so she thought perhaps she could offer some assistance. "Actually, I think the teams are comprised of four students each, so-"
"You don't say," he suddenly rounded on her, giving a warm smile, trying to sound as confident and cool as possible. "Well, hot stuff, play your cards right, and maybe you could join up with the winning team."
Pyrrha perked up at being called "hot stuff." Perhaps it wasn't the most flattering of flirting, but for once, a boy was showing interest in her who wasn't a creepy fan boy sneaking into her trailer. Besides, he was tall and rather cute underneath that scraggly mop of blonde hair. But Pyrrha's joyful moment was interrupted when Weiss pushed him away with a light shove.
"Jaune, is it? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" Weiss said, giving him a stern push away.
"Not in the slightest, snow angel," he replied, ignoring the twitch in Weiss's eye at his nick name for her.
"This is Pyrrha Nikos," She stated, as though her name alone would be enough to explain.
"Hello again!" Pyrrha greeted brightly, her voice filled with hope upon realizing that he didn't know who she was.
Weiss stepped in, explaining that Pyrrha had graduated at the top of her class at Sanctum. However, Jaune simply looked at her dumbfounded, unaware of her achievements. Pyrrha's hope grew larger as he admitted, "Never heard of it."
Weiss scoffed at the oblivious individual who had no knowledge of Pyrrha Nikos, despite her incredible achievements.
"She's won the Mistral Region Tournaments four years in a row! A new record!" Weiss exclaimed, frustrated by the person's ignorance.
"The what?" Jaune questioned, clearly unaware of Pyrrha's accomplishments.
"She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" Weiss screamed, reaching her boiling point. It infuriated her even more that the person only recognized Pyrrha because of her cereal endorsement deal.
"That's you?!" Jaune gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief. Being such an avid fan of the cereal, he couldn't believe his eyes. "But they only do that for star athletes and cartoon characters!"
Pyrrha smiled sheepishly, a hint of embarrassment tinging her tone. "Yeah, it was pretty cool," she admitted. "Sadly, the cereal isn't very good for you." She couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious about the endorsement deal, but her agent had insisted it was a great opportunity.
"So, after hearing all of this, do you really think you're in a position to ask her to be on your team?" Weiss asked haughtily, causing the boy to deflate even more. Jaune, feeling embarrassed, apologized, saying,
"I guess not... Sorry..." He felt, as if he had just asked a celebrity to endorse a ten-dollar infomercial product.
"WELL THATS NOT REALLY UP YOU WEISS!"
Weiss's hand instinctively reached for her sword, she turned to confront the familiar interloper who had interrupted their conversation. Pyrrha and Jaune turned their attention as well, their curiosity piqued. Approaching them with a scowl that mirrored Weiss's, Pyrrha saw a badger faunus named Verdian. He had overheard Weiss's earlier outcry and was drawn to the commotion, witnessing Jaune's failed attempt at flirting and Weiss putting him down. The sight spurred Verdian into action, prompting him to come to his friend's aid.
"It's up to pyrrha if she wants to be on Jaunes team isn't it." Verdo smirked, relishing in Weiss's incredulous expression as she struggled to fathom anyone willingly joining Jaune's team. He had noticed Pyrrha's racing heartbeat around the dork knight . "What do you say, Pyrrha? Do you want to be on Team Jaune?" Verdo's tone was laced with playful curiosity, hinting at the potential for a brewing connection.
"Actually Jaune," Pyrrha looked at him, noticing the hopeful glimmer in his eyes as if he expected her to agree with his friend, "I think you'd make a great leader!"
Jaune blushed and stammered, "D'oh, stop it!" Meanwhile, Weiss scowled in disbelief at Pyrrha's unexpected praise.
""Seriously, please stop it," she said, pushing him away roughly. "This kind of behavior should not be encouraged!"
"Oh, someone a little sore that someone didn't pick you again, Weiss?" Verdo jabbed at the heiress , and Pyrrha stepped between the two before someone drew a weapon.
"And who might you be?" she asked the Faunus who had come to Jaune's assistance, with curiosity.
With a frustrated tone of voice, Weiss grabbed Pyrrha's hand and exclaimed, "NO ONE worth knowing! Just some former acquaintance who thrives on reopening old wounds and creating nothing but trouble and irritation for me!"
"Pot kettle snow fox!"Verdo growled back at her.
While Pyrrha turned back to Jaune and apologized, saying,as Weiss hauled her off.
"I'm sorry, it was nice meeting you, Jaune!"
He waved back, relieved to have met her as she seemed really nice. Suddenly, a slap on the back of his head made Jaune lurch forward. He turned to his friend, who was glaring at him.
"What was that for?!" Jaune complained, his voice filled with irritation, as Veridian wagged a finger at him.
"For being stupid. That was a sorry excuse for flirting if I've ever seen one," the badger retorted, crossing his arms. "You know I have issues with Weiss, and you're just flirting with her like some clueless guy who's never talked to a girl before or received terrible advice from his dad... or maybe both."
Jaune coughed into his hand, his gaze fixed on Verdo as they both made their way towards the cliffs. He mustered the courage to ask his friend a pressing question. "Hey, what's your issue with Weiss? I mean, she seems nice..."
He stopped talking abruptly as Verdo halted in the hallway, fixing Jaune with the coldest, most deadpan glare he could summon.
"what i mean is -"
"What you mean is you think that shes pretty and cute and you wanna date her. And you're over looking the fact she just talked with you with a single ounce of positivity in her voice at all in fact she was disgusted by your presence."
" I mean she,... you're avoiding the question." As they continued walking, Jaune stopped Verdo by stepping in front of him.
"Hey, come on. We're friends, and if you're going to be fighting with her a lot, if I'm caught in the middle, I have a right to know, bro code, dude." Jaune pushed, and Verdo groaned. Maybe he had a point, but Verdo didn't want to admit that he didn't think he had to explain. He thought it was obvious.
Jaune and Verdo walked side by side along the hallway, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. Verdo couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration building up within him. He had given Jaune a clue, hoping he would connect the dots and understand the situation. But it seemed that Jaune was struggling to grasp the meaning behind Verdo's words.
"Jaune... I'm a boy, she's a girl. I gave her a pet name, and she hates my guts. What else could it be buuuut..." Verdo trailed off, waiting for Jaune to make the connection.
Verdo observed Jaune's face closely, noticing the gears turning in his head. It was as if the gears were overheating, struggling to process the information. Verdo couldn't help but draw a parallel between this moment and how Weiss must have felt when trying to explain things to Jaune about Pyrrha just moments ago.
"SHES MY EXE, YOU DUMB ASS!" Verdo suddenly exclaimed, shoving past Jaune in frustration.
"Ohhhhhhhhhh," Jaune muttered, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place.
Finally, Jaune seemed to understand the tension that had been building between Verdo and the girl in question. As they stood in the hallway, on their way to Beacon's cliffs for their initiation.