Gherman startled awake to the sound of hushed murmuring. Blinking away the tears in his eyes, he rubbed away the gunk in his eyes. Wondering momentarily if he had been so lost in old fantasies that old friends and simple longings had followed him waking up. Breathing heavily, he shook the last dredges of sleep away with a deep sigh. Willing those hurtful memories away. Only for the hushed murmuring to return, followed by the sound of familiar steps behind him.
"Come now, father." The doll whispered gently as she stepped behind his wheelchair. Ever so gently grabbing the handles and wheeling him away from his little garden.
"Oh? What's the occasion? You have never called me so before." Gehrman asked gruffly. Pushing away what he felt inside. The familiar feeling of disgust and self-hate never leaving him alone wherever she was around. A constant reminder of his own depravity and to what ends madness had driven him. Even if her eyes were always filled with love, her gaze constantly felt like scathing knives.
"I- I do not know." The Doll whispered gently. For the first time since her creation, Gehrman heard her voice break slightly. "I look at the Kind Hunter and the Hope of Tomorrow interacting, and I feel envy. It… it feels like slithering worms gnawing inside me. Even when I shouldn't feel jealousy, that I should be happy for what they share, I can't help the disgusting feeling welling up inside. I didn't even know there was possible to feel something so revolting. But, whenever I look at them, beside the envy, I feel longing. For something I never got to know. I know I can never be She you created me to be, crafted from her image as you did."
"I know." Gehrman replied softly. "I know." He sighed heavily. Not able to look back at his greatest shame. Born from madness and obsession for what had once been. A fantasy he had believed real.
"Yet… you are my father. I care for you deeply."
"Because I made you too." Gehrman countered, guilt and heat creeping into his voice. "Because I made you too."
"That may be true, however it makes what I feel for you no less true." The Doll whispered ever so gently. "May I call you father? If only for-"
"Always." Gehrman interrupted softly, coughing slightly as his voice rasped. "Always." He whispered like the softest of prayers. Feeling emotions he had never known come sprouting through the constant apathy and self-hate. They were fragile things, quickly choked to death by the constant turmoil that swirled inside. Yet, for one moment the weight of guilt on his shoulders were gone. Colour returned to the dream before everything turned grey again.
"Thank you, father." The Doll replied gently with more emotion than he had ever thought her capable of giving the word enough weight to crush him. "But let us not keep our guests waiting."
Gravel crunched under the wheels of his wheelchair as the Doll gently wheeled him to the Dreams 'entrance'. A gravelled path leading everywhere and nowhere surrounded, tall stone fences keeping the twisting trees from the path. Before the wrought iron gate, his boy stood surrounded by twelve girls dressed in splendid dresses. Each one more extravagant than the last. However, some concerning similarities echoed between them. Blood dripped from a brand on their forehead, and everyone's dress was blood-soaked in the same area.
They stood barefooted on the gravelled path, nervously talking amongst themselves as they threw around some curious glances. Yet always returning to Jaune, nervously bombarding him with whispered questions and demands. Violet wrapped her arms around his waist, looking to be on the verge of tears as she scowled at the other girls. Some were barely older than her, being around Aurora's age he reckoned, while the oldest looked to be the same age as Jaune.
"What did you do now, son?" Gehrman sighed tiredly, rubbing his glabella as he took in the sight before him. The soft whispering instantly dying down. Caution falling over the women, with the younger girls quickly seeking cover behind Jaune.
"Nothing." Jaune sighed, rolling his eyes as he started walking forward. The girls falling in line after him like ducklings, with the eldest right behind him and the youngest holding up the rear. "I will have you know I did nothing. I went to bed. I didn't even know they could follow me here. I'm just as surprised as you."
"Where is here, exactly?" The oldest girl asked, sending both him and the Doll a scrutinising glare. Her voice filled with haughty arrogance. While she said it like a question, it sounded like a thinly veiled demand. A gentle chuckle escaped the Doll, turning his wheelchair and wheeling him beside the lad as they made their way back to the workshop.
"The Crossroads. The place where dreams and the waking world meet's. Where what is real and what is illusion is but a matter of perspective. There are probably other ways to describe it, but you get the gist." Jaune explained patiently. His voice laced with heavy tiredness. "It's why you are corporeal. In the real world, you might be ghosts. But here? The rules of nature are closer to guidelines than anything."
"Thank you, however that explained where we are. Not why? May you elaborate" The girl asked again, only to be rudely interrupted by Violet.
"So you can speak!" She spat with a glare. "If you could speak the entire time, why did you try and make me feel stupid earlier!"
"As I said, the rules of nature are closer to guidelines here." Jaune said gently, putting a gentle hand on Violet's shoulder before she could properly begin her tirade. "Something as trivial as a language barrier holds no weight here. It will of course return when we wake up. But at least for now it's meaningless."
"But why can she understand you?" Violet huffed, pointing a finger at the oldest girl. Ignoring the heated glare she received in turn. "Shouldn't the language barrier go both ways?"
"You know what, I simply stopped questioning it." Jaune shrugged nonchalantly, apathy bleeding into his voice. "I have other, more pressing, answer's I want to discover. Even if the answer's I find are things any sane person would rather forget, there are some things I need to know. No matter if the answers may drive me into madness."
"I hope I don't have to tell you how self-destructive that line of thought is." Gherman butted in. Expertly ignoring the look Jaune sent him. Both aware of the absolute hypocrisy he was spitting. 'Hypocritic it may be, but I don't want you to end up like me, lad. Some answers are not worth the cost. No matter what your heart tells you. Isn't that right Micolash?'
"Maybe, maybe not. However, welcome to our Workshop." Jaune mumbled absentmindedly as they stepped into the clearing where the Workshop stood. Instantly soft murmuring broke amongst the youngest girls. Smiling softly, Jaune turned and looked at the girls. "You are free to explore, the graveyard is to the right, so be respectful if you step foot inside. There are some books inside, some fiction and everything you can wish for. Doll, would you care to make sure they don't touch anything sensitive? I don't want them getting any ideas when it comes to my ritual regents. Or chase each other around with weapons."
"I will watch over Those in Limbo." The Doll replied politely, curtsying to Jaune before walking up the stairs and into the workshop. Following after the exited youngest girls. Violet chasing after them with a scowl.
"It would seem the little one isn't pleased with your guests." Gehrman rasped, as Jaune wheeled him up the stairs.
"It will be good for her. Being surrounded by children her own age." Jaune replied. Parking him in his little garden, overlooking the graveyard as the large and gnarly tree basked them in gentle shadow. "Maybe it's not the ideal playdate, but she shouldn't forget to be a child when she still is. I know why she is forcing herself to grow up quicker, but she needs a break every now and then."
"Don't forget you are a child too." Gehrman pointed out, looking over at the boy he had seen grow up before his eyes. The innocence he had first seen in Jaune's eyes had long since died. His jaw was sharp, everything about him carried a sense of sharpness and barley restrained violence. There was kindness there, the only thing the Dream hadn't managed to snuff out. Yet Gehrman coulndt help but wonder if the cost had been worth it. The boy in a sweater with a rabbit motif reeked of youthful naivete, with a literal heart of gold in his chest. He hadn't deserved to die and be ground into this. Even if he was proud of the man Jaune had become, that didn't lessen the guilt he felt in the slightest.
"I know." Jaune replied sharply. Sighing softly as he echoed again. "I know."
"So what happened exactly?" Gehrman asked, changing the topic to something else as Jaune sat down on wooden rocking chair that appeared out of nowhere. The eldest girl following his example and sat down in a regal chair of her own. The second eldest looking between them unsurely, before ever so gently stepping away and walking into the workshop. "I thought you said you were going to answer the Queen's summons?"
"I did." Jaune sighed heavily. "It's started okay, you know. A little bit weird, with dead horses pulling a carriage, and what not. But honestly, after being in Yharnam so long that's almost normal. I would have been more worried if something hadn't happened. The courtyard was occupied by some bloodlickers, nothing overly dangerous if you keep your head on your shoulders. It was when we entered the castle things went to hell. And it all started with a single man. Viscount Alric of Cainhurst."
"That old bastard is still alive?" Gehrman interrupted in honest surprise. "I know the old bugger is hard to kill. But to think one of the old guard is still alive. Even after so long."
"Was. Was alive." Jaune replied as he rolled his shoulder. "Bastard even took my arm off."
"Excuse me?" The eldest spirit replied. Mirroring his shock entirely. "What do you mean took your arm off? You seem to be completely in one piece."
"Arms are surprisingly simply to reattach." Jaune shrugged. "And that is without mentioning the boost the blood is, add some of my spells into the equation and it was no problem really. Now that I think about it, there might still be some string in my shoulders."
"What did you learn, lad?" Gehrman asked, having grown used to Jaune's antics. Neither did it help much when it looked like Jaune was riding out his fifth mental break since the conversation started.
He had long since known that the Dream was cruel. Having witnessed the same song and dance over a good hundred times at least. A new hunter arrived, descending into varying states and levels of madness the longer the hunt went on. Even when they 'woke' up, the scars left on their psyche never healed. 'With how many of the old guard that died before realising their potential, a way to removed death from the equation sounded like the best answer at the moment. Yet dying over and over leaves scars of their own.' Gehrman had witnessed firsthand again and again.
Gehrman had seen with his own eyes 'new' hunter's fall into depths of blood-drunk depravity that eclipsed even the worst the old guard had to offer. Many choosing to fight him when he offered them rest at the completion of their contracts. Forgetting that their 'immortality' ended when the contract did.
It was one of the reasons he nudged Jaune to rely less and less on the dream's 'gift' of immortality. 'Now, if only he hadn't taken my words on not dying so literally. I have seen you take blows that would shatter stone and come out unharmed. But would it hurt you to simply dodge instead?' He grumbled to himself as he stared at his protégé.
Patiently he sat and waited for Jaune to choose his words. Loosing himself in idle thought and reminiscence. Only sending a single glance at the eldest girl. 'Woman.' Gehrman instantly corrected in his mind. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought them to be married. They were both of that age. Yet he knew that to be the furthest from the truth.
"I found out why I'm in Yharnam, for one." Jaune started, his voice taking on a hollow tone. "What it cost. That there is no limit to human cruelty. That I'm not as noble as I think I am. That-" Jaune stopped, sighing heavily as silence fell over that as he chose his words. "That I think something died inside me that night. Or it had been dead for a while. I just hadn't noticed it. Of course, it didn't much help that my day was an absolute shitshow. But what can you do."
"You are forgetting something." The young lady chimed in, her voice holding a melodic tone even if each word were sharp. Sending a quick and sharp glare into the back of Jaune's head.
"Yes, yes. I apologise." Jaune nodded, rolling his eyes at her. "I did free you and the other young queens from the Queen's blood bath… or ritual anchor if it sounds more appropriate. That is something that happened. And I apologise if my words are crass. However to me, right now, finding out why I suddenly woke up in Yharnam outweighs everything. It might have been the most important moment for you in recent memory. But for me, that moment happened not a minute later when I cradled an infant who had been ritualistically sacrificed before it's umbilical cord had been cut."
The words hang in the air for a moment, before Jaune sighed and stood up. Stretching with a groan. "That's enough reminiscing. I'm going to go continue working on the funeral, ritual, thing."
"No you will not." Gehrman replied instantly. Jabbing his cane lighting fast into Jaune's side. Hitting him squarely in the liver. A muted groan escaped Jaune, even if he didn't budge the slightest. "Sit." He gestured firmly. "Visionary you might be. However somethings are sacred. And upon that list, funerals rank highly. For your own sake, and for those who you are holding the funeral for, don't go about this rashly. This isn't something you can brute force. It will have consequences."
Gehrman stared flatly into Jaune's eyes. Nothing showing on his face even as the boy's eyes danced between blue and yellow.
"If you care for them. If you want what is best for them. Rest." Gehrman said sternly. "If you are not at your best, if something were to go wrong. Death will be the worst of your worries. Some things are sacred for a reason."
Something flashed through Jaune's eyes. Understanding followed by a flash of something Gehrman lacked the words to properly describe.
"Sit. Walk. Read a book. Sleep. It matter's little what you do, so long that you rest." Gehrman explained patiently. Raising an eyebrow as a strong wind appeared from nowhere and pushed Jaune back into his rocking chair. "See. Even this dream of ours agrees."
Gehrman pretended he didn't hear the heavy sigh that escaped Jaune. He wasn't the first workaholic he knew. Neither would he be the last. But he was the first in a long time that pushed themselves so relentlessly towards breaking. If Gehrman hadn't known better, he wouldn't have thought Jaune was playing chicken with his own eventual crash.
"Why?" Gehrman asked nonchalantly. Giving him something else to mull over. "You have slept in the dream before. I don't think I have to be the one to remind you how much good it did you. So why, why don't you rest when you have ample opportunity to do so?"
"I know… I know. You don't have to remind me, I know." Jaune sighed, the heat in his voice bleeding out, replaced with harsh self-loathing. "Trust me. I know." Jaune muttered under his breath. "It's just… I'm scared of what I will see when I fall asleep."
"And it's easier to work yourself until you collapse." Gehrman summarised, nodding ever so slightly to himself. Having seen the same behaviour in both those who came through the dream and the old guard. The hunt was draining, both physically and mentally. There was a reason the old guard were frequent flyers at brothels. And many others took up the bottle. Yet, no one was better at torturing themselves than man. Suicide and blood drunkenness were the biggest killers of the old guard, beside the beasts themselves. And for good reason at that.
"It is." Jaune replied with a soft nod.
"Is this the reality of hunter's?" The young lady beside them asked softly. Some haughtiness creeping into her voice, yet it was drowned out by concern and horrific surprise. "What happened while I was dead? Deader."
"The world went to shit." Jaune piped instantly.
"Forgive my protégé, young lady." Gehrman said politely, giving Jaune a hard stare. Willing to forgive his protégé for now, due to his fragile mental state. However, that wasn't an excuse to forgot proper manners. They would be having a conversation about that another time. "We have not been introduced properly. You may call be Gehrman. I would give you my last name, however I am afraid I have forgotten what it was. May I have the honour of knowing who you are? It would make explaining easier."
"My name is Elizabeth von Cainhurst. First of her name, and second Queen of Cainhurst." Elizabeth introduced herself. Her voice taking on a haughty arrogance he had only heard the aristocracy speak in as the brand on her forehead churned. Spitting black blood. An invisible wind brushing away the hair covering her left eye, revealing a pit of black squirming filth. "You might have heard of me."
"Apprentice, how, or why, maybe is better, is the Queen of some hundred years ago following you?" Gehrman asked as politely he could. Having been there before the church's rise to power and the scourge of beast that followed, Gehrman liked to think there was nothing left to surprise him. He had communed with beings of such immense power and breath that their majesty coulndt be described, only experienced. There should have been nothing left to surprise him in this world.
Yet, Gehrman found himself turning to Jaune with a raised eyebrow. Wondering if there was some form of destiny that pushed him into finding the impossible, or if his protégé simply had the best and worst luck imaginable in the history of mankind.
"The Queen, first Queen of Cainhurst, or maybe she wasn't even that. But I digress. She is a master of blood magic. And have created a special type of ritual merging the 'Shedding of Skin' ritual with the 'Bath of Stolen Virtue' and some other supplementary rites I don't recognise. Essentially the Queen steal's the body of the victim, while anchoring their soul to the world of a living. Making her regain her youth and making herself functionally immortal. In a way at least." Jaune explained clearly.
"You really are talented, lad." Gehrman complimented after Jaune had finished. The man in question looking at him with a raised eyebrow. "What you just explained, I coulndt have figured that out. If anything, I might not even have discovered anything wrong in the first place. However, it does raise some terrifying implications. I take it that Queen Elizabeth isn't the only one who had their being stolen?"
"You are sharp, Mr Gehrman. And You would be correct. Everyone else of our entourage are victims of the First Queen's wickedness. Even the youngest." Elizabeth sneered. The filth in her eye roiling as flames of pure fury burned in the other. "Even now, with the Queen's spirit sealed in Mr Arc's blade, we are still unable to pass on. Bound to forever make a mockery of life."
"It's why I want to develop a proper funeral ritual, or something along those lines at least." Jaune butted in from the side. "The idea is at least to lay to rest all the grievances on Cainhurst castle. That includes lingering grudges, the resentment left behind after the Executioner's laid waste to the township, the young queens, and the sacrificed infants. I like to think I have an outline, but it's going to take time to fill in the details. Not to mention there might be some things I'm forgetting from the top of my head."
"And how long exactly, have you worked on this funeral service of yours?" Gehrman asked gruffly, shooting his protégé a flat look. While he was more than used to being the ignorant one around. An inevitability really, when you were constantly surrounded by people such as Laurance and Micolash. Gehrman was undoubtedly a learned man; it was simply that he lacked Laurance's vision to see a path into the future. Nor did he have Micolash's unending thirst for knowledge. Yet even then, he had still been one of the most influential people of his generation. 'We all have our strength's. Murder just happens to be mine.' Gehrman thought to himself as old memories came crashing back.
"An hour? Maybe two?" Jaune replied, looking to Elizabeth with a raised brow. "A bit over one." The woman replied haughtily. "Then something else happened and the weirdest twelve hours of my life began. It was for a good cause undoubtably but come on."
"Not even two hours, and you already have a basic outline." Gehrman started, shooting Jaune a look. "And this is with you tired out of your mind and being on the verge of a breakdown. Just imagine what you could do if you were to care for yourself like you care for others."
"Why are we suddenly back to criticising me?" Jaune groaned loudly. "Weren't you about to give Elizabeth an impromptu history lesson? With the beast scourge, the church, and what not? I feel like you are going a bit off track here."
"While I'm more than a little curious, I have waited for over a hundred years to pass on. I can wait a bit longer. I can't properly set in words how much I simply want to pass on. To be free from the chains that keep me to this plane. I do not want for you to make a mistake that curses my unlife further." Miss Elisabeth explained politely. "It certainly doesn't hurt that my youngest cohorts get to experience joy again. It might only be for a little while, but I wish for them to experience what was stolen from them."
"This is emotional blackmail." Jaune countered instantly, with a flat look. "Pure, unfiltered, emotional blackmail."
"You are not wrong." Elizabeth replied with a roll of her eye. "However, you wouldn't have reacted if it didn't work."
"You are a bitch; you know that right." Jaune said as he stood up. Shooting two nasty glares behind them. "If I hadn't known you only meant well, we would be having a different conversation. But, yes, I'll see if I can maybe get some sleep. If only to stop the two of you from teaming up on me. My day have been bad enough, I don't need you to make my night even more stressful."
With a roll of his eyes, Jaune walked away. Boots stomping down the staircase. Gehrman followed him with his eyes, seeing all the anger and frustration bleed out of him as he stepped into the graveyard. Making his way over to the large tree, his protégé looked around before sighing, sitting down and laying himself flat out in its shadow.
"You care for him." Gehrman muttered idly, airing his thought's as he looked at his protégé. Humming idly to himself as the noise and chatter inside the workshop died down. Violet coming walking out with some of the younger Queens. Looking at Jaune before quickly heading down the steps and joining him in the shadow.
For the first time in a long time, Gehrman allowed himself to smile. It was a little thing. Not even fit to be called a proper smile. But, again, colour washed into his vision as he felt his self-destructive emotions lulled to sleep. Even if it was only momentarily.
"I have use for him." Elizabeth replied, letting haughtiness creep back into her voice. A sneer creeping onto her features as she looked at how the youngest occupants of the dream had all decided to move their playing and reading to the graveyard around Jaune. If they kept their voices low in respect for Jaune, or for those laid to rest, Gehrman was certain in his guess that it was the former.
"Then… a warning if you will, your highness." Gehrman stated, moving his gaze over to the young Queen. Not a day older than his protégé, and yet they coulndt be more different. Even if they were so similar at the same time. "Do not let your ambition blind you. I do not know what schemes you are brewing; however be careful should they involve my protégé. If only for your own sake. Nothing is without cost, after all."
"Are you threatening me?" Elizabeth hissed, her hair beginning to float as her nails turned into sharp claws dripping with black ichor.
"A simple warning. For now at least." Gehrman sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Giving the banshee a flat stare that jolted her back into 'human' form. "I do not know, neither do I particularly care, about what you desire. However, should you overstep…"
What sharp retort on Elizabeth's tongue died quickly, crimson mist came seeping out from Gehrman's shadow as he sneered at the young upstart. For that was what she was. A young upstart who wanted to revenge. And had decided that his protégé would serve as her instrument of vengeance. "You might think yourself invincible, a ghost that can't be hurt. But you coulndt be further from the truth."
Letting the young upstart sweat a bit, he turned around. Closing his eyes and leaning back in his chair. Pretending he didn't hear how she fled down the staircase. Knowing she went to the only place she felt safe. Not long after he felt a familiar presence make its way beside him.
Opening and eye, he looked at the Doll. Her eyes twinkling with more emotion he had eve thought her capable of. Smiling softly as she stood and looked down on the graveyard under them. Where Elizabeth had sat down by Jaune's head. Running gentle finger's through his hair. Soft humming escaping her, his protégé already fast asleep.
"She won't take your warning to heart, father." The Doll said gently. Gehrman sighed slightly, just realising she was going to sneak the word into everyone of their conversations from now on.
"You are right. I do not know what she has planned for my protégé, I simply know that he already has enough on his plate. He doesn't need a young upstart trying to force him to fit into her schemes." Gehrman mussed softly. "I don't think she knows what she feels, or why she schemes, in the first place. She is as 'free' as a bound spirit can be, should she wish, she could freely leave. Yet she latched onto Jaune, no different from those younger than herself."
"Her grudges are all she has known for over two and a half centuries. And then she is suddenly freed, exposed to kindness and nobility. Almost as if straight out of a fairytale. Is it really a wonder she would latch on tight?" The Doll hummed gently. Smiling as she took in the view. "What she sees in the kind hunter, that I don't know. I simply know that it's strong."
Looking down into the graveyard, soft humming echoed out through the dream. Coming from Elizabeth as she rested beside Jaune. Looking down at him as she hummed. Brows scrunching up in a frown, mirroring the one on his protégé.
"There will come a soldier, who carries a mighty sword~" She hummed lightly, gently moving away a lock of hair from Jaune. The troubled frown he wore easing away as she sang softly. "He will tear your city down, oh lei, oh lai, oh lord."
"Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh lord." The other young queens chorused softly. Not everyone joined in, leading to a mess of notes, both hollow and sour. Breaking Elizabeth out of her trance. Pink coloured her cheeks as the younger girls continued, completely ignoring her. Making up the lack of talent with heart. "He will tear your city down, oh lei, oh lai, oh lord."
"There will come a poet, whose weapon is his word~" Elizabeth continued gently, her voice clear and melodic. "He will slay you with his tongue, oh lei, oh lai, oh lord."
"Oh lei, oh lai, oh lei, oh lord." The other young girls joined in. Growing more confident in their singing. Growing from a jarring muttering to something that sounded like a proper choir. Even the few off-key notes didn't matter much, heart lacing every word. "He will slay you with his tongue, oh lei, oh lai, oh lord."
"There will come a ruler, whose brow is laid in thorn~"
As the Queen's song gently rang through the dream. Gehrman coulndt help but shake his head good naturally. Choosing to simply lean back into his wheelchair and close his eyes, enjoying the music for what it was. Like everything that visited the dream, it was temporary at best. But even if it was temporary, Gehrman coulndt remember the last time he had heard someone sing.
#-#-#
"We need to get professor Goodwitch something nice." Ren pointed out as he poured some milk into his porridge.
"Agreed." Nora and Pyrrha chimed as one. Nodding, Ren was grateful that he wasn't the only one who sent the sense of weirdness. Nora was absentmindedly looking at her scroll, laughing under her breath when she saw something funny, before swiping away. Pyrrha on the other hand was nursing a cup of black coffee. Idly looking over too Jaune every now and then. Who looked more dead than alive. The only thing showing that he was still alive being the soft snoring that escaped him every once in a while.
"So, do you really think they are going to allow you to have the opening match against team BRWZ?" Pyrrha eventually asked. Breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen over the dinner table, shooting another look at the cuddle pile that was Jaune. Many of the younger ghosts sleeping on top of another.
"Already checked it earlier." Nora replied quickly. Tapping on her scroll, their scrolls chiming not a second later.
"Showdown at the festival. An opening match for the ages. Three versus four. The best of Vale against the best of Vacuo." Ren read out loudly idly. "Huh, they really are milking it for everything it's worth. I didn't think they would follow through."
"But Pyrrh, honey, I don't think I have ever seen you so jealous." Nora pointed out with a sly grin. "Why don't you do like Jaune and get your beauty sleep."
"Nora, it's one pm." Pyrrha replied flatly. Taking another sip of her breakfast coffee. "And we are having breakfast instead of lunch. I think I, or we, all got our beauty sleep."
"You must really be jealous if you are so snappy, huh." Nora pointed out.
Pyrrha huffed loudly, leaning onto the dinner table and looking at Nora with the worst puppy dog eyes she had ever seen. "It's our first ever proper team fight… and I have to sit out. Are you sure we can't switch? I'll do your homework for a month."
"As tempting as that is. And it really is. I want to break some knees." Nora exclaimed, anger churning in her eyes.
"This is… personal for us." Ren butted it, his calm façade cracking slightly as he frowned deeply. Embers of rage creeping into his voice. "Nolan didn't just overstep grossly. He poured salt in old wounds. Wounds that have never really healed. We are going into this 'duel', not with an intent to win, but instead with a very real knowledge that we might get suspended or disqualified."
"Yeah!" Nora exclaimed loudly. Quickly holding her hands over her mouth and sending a concerned look over to Jaune. Sighing in relief when another snore escaped him. "There isn't really going to be a question if we get suspended or not. The question is going to be how long, and if we may be expelled. I'm not saying we are going to murder him on live tv, but it's going to be close."
"His words really got under your skin." Pyrrha muttered. "I'm sorry I didn't realise an-"
"Don't." Nora cut her of quickly. Giving her friend a soft smile. "You coulndt have known. Growing up an orphan isn't something you can just 'try' to learn or understand. It's one of those things you have to experience for yourself. And I never want you to learn what it's like."
"So what kind of gift are we thinking of getting Professor Goodwitch?" Ren asked, switching the topic without a care in the world. "Maybe some flowers? Some tulips, maybe some yellow roses, or we can create a bouquet. I do think she would be quite grateful for a bouquet built around irises and orchids."
"How about a box of chocolate?" Pyrrha said, sharing the first thing that came to mind. Not minding the change in topic. If they didn't want to talk about it, they wouldn't. 'His words must have really brought up bad memories if they don't even want to think about it.' Pyrrha hummed nonchalantly to herself, taking a backseat as Nora began spitting ideas like a waterfall. 'Maybe I should have some words with Nolan myself? Or would that be too much?'
A knock on the door broke her out of her thoughts. Looking around, the conversation between Nora and Ren had died down.
"We weren't expecting anyone today, right?" Pyrrha asked as she got up. Stretching and letting out a content moan as the joints in her back popped.
"No? I don't think so?" Ren added, giving the door an inquisitive look. "We don't have our detention until later. There was that meeting, with Atlas about what we borrowed, so it might be someone coming to get Jaune since he hasn't checked his scroll. But honestly it can just as easily be Ruby coming to ask about yesterday. Maybe it's Professor Goodwitch coming to check if Nora returned anything."
"Ughhhh. Fuck. I forgot." Nora groaned loudly. Looking at the cabinet she had filled with 'borrowed' contraband with tears in her eyes. "My grenades. My babies." She sobbed hollowly. "How am I going to get more now?"
"I'm sure we can think of something." Ren pipped in. Rolling his eyes as he shot her a wink. "And, if all else fails. I'm sure we can auction one of Pyrrha's used shoes. The one with a broken heel will fetch for a fine sum I reckon."
A full body shudder raced through Pyrrha. Her breakfast churned in her stomach, tasting stomach acid on her tongue as she retched slightly.
"I apologise if I over stepped. It was a joke in bad faith." Ren said immediately when he saw how much the tough physically pained her. "I'm sure there are other ways we can help Nora stock up that doesn't include selling items to rabid dogs."
"Yes, I'm going to go open the door now. And pretend all the colourful artworks of me online doesn't exist." Pyrrha replied, shuddering again just thinking about it. Ignoring the look Nora sent her.
Plastering on a polite smile, she opened the door and finding no one there. Her hand shooting out on reflex as she felt something brushing by her leg. Looking down, a around the same age as Violet stared up at her with big blue eyes. A sense of confusion shining through as she tilted her head.
'Blue eyes, gold hair. Jaune's nose and eyebrows.' Smiling gently, she looked down at the girl. "You wouldn't happen to be one of Jaune's sister's, would you?" She asked, noticing one of Beacon's 'visitor cards clipped to hem of her sweater.
"Yes?" The girl asked with a raised eyebrow. Nodding softly as if that was expected. "I thought you knew? Since you invited me in?"
"We thought you his family would visit later. Given recent happenings." Pyrrha explained patiently, not having the heart to tell the girl they had completely forgotten about it in everything that had happened recently. "Your brother is still asleep; however you are free do come in. Please just don't wake him up. We have had some exhausting days recently."
Jaune's younger sister nodded, stepping into their room fully as she closed the door behind her. Having completely disappeared when Pyrrha turned back.
"Who is it Pyrrh?" Nora asked, standing up and looking towards the door.
"Just one of Jaune's sisters. Not the… one from last time. But one around Violet's age." Pyrrha answered. A soft smile on her face when she looked over to some rustling by their beds. A head of gold poking out through the covers. Jaune grumbled something in his sleep, wrapping an arm around his sister on reflex. Soft snoring ringing out not long after.
"Awww. Isn't she just the cutest?" Nora smiled as she looked at the scene, some envy flashing in her eyes before it disappeared like it had never been there. "Hard to think that she is related to that bitch."
"Nora, while you are not wrong. Please don't call Jaune's sister a bitch." Ren said from the side. "Not when the proper word is harlot."
Before Nora could reply with a quip of her own, Jaune's scroll started screaming. Vibrating madly as someone called him.
"I'll take it." Pyrrha sighed, quickly heading over to his bedside and grabbing his scroll before he woke up. Yesterday had been a nightmare, what Jaune shared with her keeping her up at night. But while she had it bad, she coulndt begin to fathom how Jaune had it. Not when he was the one to discover everything. It still sounded like a nightmare, with gods and magic capable of reaching another world and grabbing an innocent soul. Yet it was true. For how else could all the supernatural things around Jaune be explained otherwise?
Grabbing the scroll, she scowled slightly when she saw the name. Sighing heavily as she chose to be the bigger person. Taking the call and instantly being screamed at.
"Yo moron! Bloom slipped away. She's at beacon somewhere. We were getting our visitor cards and I looked away one second and she was gone." The scathing voice of Lily rang out.
"She's here." Pyrrha answered politely, finding some enjoyment in how the girl froze completely on the other side. "However, I'm afraid we can't have visitors today. You see we a detention. With maybe a meeting involving the headmaster and the General after. We will look after her today, and we can drop her off later, if that's alright with you. I'm sorry, I understand why this wanted to be a surprise visit. But how do tomorrow sound?"
There was a crackle of static on the other side, before another voice rang out from the scroll. This one soft and gentle, filled with kindness that instantly made Pyrrha know where Jaune's kindness came from.
"I'm sorry if we jumped this at you. I apologise, it's just… Jaune never called or sent a text since he ran away. And I worry. But I'm glad to know he's doing alright and have friends that are looking out for him." Jaune's mother replied gently. "But why don't you make sure he sends me a text when your meting and detention is over? I will meet you down by the Vale airdock."
"That sound grand." Pyrrha replied, ending the call before Jaune's mother could worm more promises out of her. The second the call ended, Pyrrha exhaled heavily. "I just lied to his mom." She whispered to herself, almost not beliving what she had done.
"Uahauhaa." Nora cried, throwing herself at Ren as big fat tears fell from her eyes. "Renny! Renny! I'm so proud. Our child is growing up. One day she can't lie and apologises for everything. And now she is… and now she is… and now she-" Nora didn't manage to say anything more as she cried.
"There there, Nora." Ren consoled gently. A chuckle escaping him as he shared a glance with her. Pyrrha didn't know if she should be angry, ashamed, or proud. Settling on rolling her eyes as she huffed.
"Yes, yes, laugh it up." Pyrrha said with a huff, rolling her eyes as another knock rang out on the door. Two quick and sharp raps. "I'll get it." She huffed again, walking over to the door. Not at all surprised when she saw Goodwitch standing on the other side.
"Is this about detention, or Nora?" Pyrrha asked with resignation. Wondering who they had pissed off for their day to start like this.
"Partially." Professor Goodwitch replied quickly. "The headmaster is expecting you in his office Miss Nikos. Don't worry, nothing bad is happening. It's simply that he has received an offer that it might be possible for you to perform alone in the two versus one battle, and he wanted to take it up with you. And, yes, it's also about your teams detention. I understand yesterday wasn't what I could say a pleasant experience. However you are still to sit your detention's. I understand it can feel unfair, however some things your team said, and did, before everyone watching at home can't be overlooked."
"Am I to sit detention with them?" Pyrrha asked with a frown, feeling something in her gut twinging at the way she was pushed away from her team. Quickly shaking her head. 'It's nothing.'
"Yes, when your meeting with the headmaster is finished, you will be joining your team." Professor Goodwitch clarified gently. Her brow twitching when the sound of Jaune's snoring echoed out into the hallway. "I will give your team, fifteen minutes to get ready. You are free to dip by the cafeteria firstly, should it be required. But I am expecting team JNPR in my office in fifteen minutes. Good day. And I do apologise for yesterday. It was out of my hands."
With that Professor Goodwitch turned around and disappeared up the hallway. Closing the door behind her, Pyrrha sighed heavily. Looking around the dorm, wondering again why her gut screamed at her. Not used to it happening outside of matches.
"Dibs for not waking Jaune up!" Nora exclaimed quickly.
#-#-#-#-#
Note: Gehrman is an old 'British' gentleman. So the word 'son' is interchangeable with the word 'lad', 'boy', etcetera. If the meaning of the word will change, welp, only the future will tell.
Note: And no, the only reason the ghosts are in the dream is because they are 'bound' to Jaune in a manner of speaking. They are not more Violet's or apprentices, but more akin to temporary tagalongs.
Note: For those who have asked, Cainhurst is the last 'location' before this arc ends. It's also a place that will be visited some more times, given that it is a corner stone of how Jaune will grow from this experience. It's also because I don't want to have Jaune grow too strong quickly. Or grow to insane, with what Rom hides and all that. It's a power cap bottleneck essentially.
Note: No, I'm not shipping Elizabeth with Jaune. They are just two teens who are as emotionally constipated as another.
Note: The DLC is included, it's going to happen soon ish.
Note: Some of y'all are absolute bloodthirsty when it comes to the family.