-Chapter One-

First Day Blues

Ruby Rose – who totally had normal knees, no bee's knees to be found, no siree! – was not having a very good day.

First her stupid sister prevented her from meeting all the new and cool weapons – and no, she did not have to meet their owners, their weapons told her all she needed to know! Then she ditches her for her friends! Which… caused her to, literally spiral, into some crabby girl's luggage – and then she exploded! And then a goth showed up and said some things to the crabby girl – who apparently is a big deal and the daughter of the SDC CEO, like she's suppose to know that! – and then the crabby girl left, so she thought "Why not make friends with the goth girl? They both shared a similar taste in clothes, and maybe she like weapons too!" Only to turn around to see her sashaying away – like she had to show off how big her butt was! And no, Ruby was anything but jealous – it's not like she'd spent the last ten years being compared to Yang who just had to go through puberty a year early, unlike her who still has yet to go through it!

And… oh Brothers someone's trying to talk to her!

It was true, a boy was trying to talk to her – though he might have been older as he was about as big as her dad, and pretty handsome to… and oh Brothers she has daddy issues! She thought Yang was the one with daddy issues, not her! And oh Brothers he just said something and offered his hand! Quick Ruby, say something!

"Y-You have really pretty eyes…"

… … …

Hello, bottomless pit? She'd like you to open up below her now and swallow her whole, that'd be nice.

"Thank you…?" Replied Mini-Dad.

And it was now, thanks to no longer spiraling into her own mind, that Ruby got a real good look at the teen in front of her.

He was about her dad's and druncle Qrow's height, with a fair complexion and a similar build to her dad. His face was strong and slightly ovular, with angled, beep blue eyes and a chiseled nose above bow-like lips that curled upwards at the corners. His hair was darker than her father's own pale blonde hair, being more of a straw blonde in color, and was styled in a feathered side part that ended at his ears, with a faint dusting of blonde scruff growing along his face and jaw.

He was dressed… rather plainly for a Hunter, dressed in a simple black Henley tee over a pair of faded blue jeans that were held up by two brown leather belts worn parallel to each other, and tucked into a pair of brown leather boots.

Jaune looked down at the, frankly adorable, girl in front of him – who was sprawled out in a… worryingly deep crater, in a skirt, which made it really hard to be a gentleman when she was airing out her shockingly risqué red lace underwear for the world to see.

"Are… are you okay?" Jaune asked, his eyes going over her in search of injuries – also getting a good look at the girl in the process.

She was petite and slender, with Jaune estimating that she stood about five foot two, with smooth pale skin and budding curves. Her face was heart shaped and still clung to the faintest traces of baby fat, with a small, slightly upturned nose, naturally pouty lips, and large silver eyes. Her hair was a dark red that graduated to a lighter shade at the tips, which was cut in a smooth, asymmetrical bob.

She was dressed in a black, high-necked, long sleeved Gothic Lolita dress – with red lace trim on the hem of her collar, sleeves, and skirt – that was covered by a black waist cincher with red laces, under this she wore a pair of dark, thigh high stockings that faded into red near the bottom and lead into a pair of black combat boots with red laces, soles, and trim along the top. Covering her whole ensemble was a bright red cloak.

"Yes Daddy." Ruby replied automatically, slapping a hand over her mouth shortly after as an atomic blush covered her face.

-/-

"I-It's okay, Ruby." Jaune playacted. "I get it, I look like your dad and your brain spoke faster than your mouth, everyone does something similar."

"Jaune, st-hop!" Ruby whined, slowly dying of mortification.

It had taken nearly ten minutes to convince Jaune that Ruby wasn't flirting with him – mainly due to her terrible people skills – and it was only Jaune's forethought of actually having read the pamphlet Beacon sent that prevented them from doing a mad dash to find the atrium.

"Hey, Ruby!" Yang hollered, jumping up and down slightly – much to the enjoyment of those around her. "I saved you a spot!"

"Oh, my sister!" Ruby cheered, before remembering her earlier actions and gritting out. "Oh, my sister!"

With eye's glaring and jaw set, Ruby marched off towards her sister like a woman on a mission. "Sorry, Jaune, I have to have some words with my sister!"

"It's like Scarlet and Saphron all over again." Jaune chuckled, before sighing. "Well, great… now where am I going to find a nice quirky girl to talk to?"

With nothing better to do, Jaune mosied on after Ruby, all the while missing a pair of inquisitive emerald green eyes. Managing to arrive at the tail end of the mother of all butt chewings – which would've made Mama Arc proud.

"-and then I exploded and some crabby girl yelled at me! And-"

"You!" Called out a new, shrill voice.

Said voice belonged to an imp of a girl who stood at five foot even – in three-inch heels – with a porcelain complexion and curves that ventured into non-existence, though she might have had an ass hiding under her skirt – not like Jaune would ever find out. Her face was fierce and angular, with high cheekbones on either side of a chiseled nose and terse, scowling lips that matched her glaring, almond shaped iceberg blue eyes – with her left one bearing a faint vertical scar that started mid forehead and ended at her cheekbone. Her hair was long and as white as freshly fallen snow and was pulled up into an asymmetrical ponytail on the right side of her head.

She was dressed in a white dress that graduated to a silvery blue at the hem of her skirt and the bell sleeves of her red lined, bordello jacket, with a thin, silvery blue sash tied around her waist, she also wore a pair of knee high, red lined white heeled boots and a small silver necklace.

"Oh it's happening again!" Ruby cried as she jumped into her sisters arms.

"Oh my God, you actually exploded!" Yang muttered in a mixture of amazement and horror.

"Do you realize how much damage you could have caused?!" Shrieked the albino newcomer.

"I-I think you two just got off on the wrong foot!" Yang desperately interjected, knowing they couldn't afford to pay off another destruction of property fine.

"Y-Yeah!" Ruby cheered, jumping down from Yang's arms in the blink of an eye. "I'm Ruby, it's nice to meet you, maybe we can be… friends…?"

"Sure! Ooh I know, we can go shopping and have sleepovers and talk about cute boy's like." The albino spoke with enough sarcasm to give a clown a heart attack, before pointing at Jaune, gaining a deep blush the longer she looked at him. "Tall, blonde, and… r-rugged…"

Really!" Ruby gushed, breaking the albino out of her stupor.

"No." She deadpanned. "Look, you want to make it up to me?"

"Y-Yes!" Ruby exclaimed, recoiling slightly as the girl shoved a pamphlet in her face that read – DUST FOR DUMMIES.

"Read this, and never talk to me again." Having said her piece, the girl flicks her ponytail and walks off with her nose high in the air.

Jaune wondered over beside the shell shocked Ruby and scoffed. "What a bitch!" Only to look over at Yang as they synchronized. "I know right?" The blondes continued, laughing. "Jinx, you owe me a soda!"

The pair looked each other in the eye for half a minute, before breaking out into hyena-like laughter. Once over his laughing fit, Jaune got a good look at Ruby's sister.

She was clearly older, standing nearly half a foot taller and bearing much more generous curves, with a fair, oriental complexion and a lean, muscular frame. Her face – much like Ruby's – was heart shaped, though devoid of baby fat, with a small, slightly upturned nose and naturally pouty lips – though she clearly knew how to make use of such a feature – but with hooded, lavender eyes that gave her a naturally smokey look. Her hair was a long mane of wavy, honey blonde hair, with trident fringe bangs framing her face and a cowlick sticking out atop her head.

She was dressed in more outwardly provocative clothing when compared to her sister, wearing a brown, short, puffed sleeved, bordello that pushed up and framed her yellow tube top covered breasts – which bore an emblem of a black, burning heart over her left breast, and seemed to act as a bra, as she was not wearing a traditional one – with black biker shorts covered by a brown leather waist cape with an extended lavender shall, and thigh high yellow socks that lead to a pair of knee high brown leather boots – with a purple bandanna tied around her right knee and her left sock rolled down to her knee.

"Oh!" Jaune sighed, whipping a tear from his eye and sticking his hand out. "I'm Jaune, Jaune Arc – short, sweet, rolls off the tongue!" He smiled. "Ladies love it!"

"Yang Xio Long!" She smirked. "Long, fun, rolls with the tongue!" Her eyes turn smokey. "And this lady sure does love it!"

Jaune's smile widened. "I think we're going to be great friends!"

"You're the first guy who's able to look me in the eye and not blatantly stare at my tits when talking to me, you're damn right we are!" Yang thought before saying. "Damn Skippy, Lover-Boy!"

Ruby, having gotten over her shock, could only look up at the pair with a growing sense of dread. "It'll be okay, Ruby, as long as he doesn't make a pun we should be-"

"Well, it's been nice, but I think the Headmaster's gonna be making a speech soon, so I think I'll make myself scarce." Jaune said, turning around and walking away with his hand raised. "Xio Long!"

Ruby felt her soul leave her body as Yang's eye lit up. "God dammit, now there's two of them…"

-/-

After a strange, and frankly lack luster, speech, the Beacon hopefuls were led to their designated sleeping area and told to set up for the night. Jaune walked through the room dressed in a pair of loose sweatpants and a tank top, with his sleeping back under his arm, waving at Yang and Ruby as he passed them by towards a secluded corner. Or what would have been if not for the presence of a mysterious bookworm.

The girl was svelte and leggy, with flared hips that were barely hidden by her yukata, that complemented her creamy skin and clung to her modest curves. Her face was comely and angular, with a cat-like nose and mouth under a pair of large, angular amber eyes that were framed by purple, cat eye mascara. Her hair was long and silky, falling to her waist, and as black as pitch – with a large black bow atop her head, which twitched slightly as Jaune approached, giving away her Faunus heritage.

She was dressed in a black sleeping yukata that was loosely tied with a purple sash and fell in a slightly seductive way – though that might just be do to who was wearing it instead of any conscious choice.

Jaune felt his eyes soften at the sight of her, hating the fact that some people believed they needed to hide a part of themselves to fit in. and in truth, it was only do to Jaune's extensive time around women that made it easy to spot a bow not behaving like it should.

Schooling his features, Jaune walked towards the girl and set up a good couple feet away from her – as to not bother or distract her from her book. Silently placing his still curled up sleeping bag against the wall before resting his head on it and shoving his right hand into it – gripping the hidden pistol inside.

Unfortunately for the ebon bookworm, the silence proved golden and refused to last as a certain sunny dragon made her presence known.

"Hello!" Yang sang as she dragged Ruby behind her.

"Yang, St-hop!" Ruby whined, getting hit with a sudden sense of déjà vu.

Jaune leaned back and closed his eyes, smiling as the conversation faded into the background. Only for that peace to be shattered by an oh so familiar shrilly voice. Cracking open one eye proved his hunch correct as he saw the albino chastising the sisterly pair in a baby blue nightgown – which on anyone else would've looked tantalizing or sensual, but on the albinos near androgynous frame, it looked more child-like than anything.

"For fuck's sake…" Jaune mumbled, before looking to the ebon bookworm – Blake, if he heard correctly. "Excuse me, I don't want to be a bother, but could you please turn out the light? It seems to be encouraging her."

Blake whipped around to look at Jaune – seemingly not knowing he was there, or simply forgetting – before blushing slightly. "O-Oh, of… of course."

Blake then blew out a nearby candle stick, bathing the room in darkness and ended the trio's fight in its infancy.

-/-

Jaune made his way through the… well, not quite locker room – as it was far too large for that – looking for his lockers, waving at Yang and Ruby as he passed.

"Why aren't the lockers in order?" Jaune grumbled. "Seriously, why is one o' five next to ninety-two?"

In the midst of his search, he came across two hopeful students strategizing.

The calmer of the two was a tall and slender Mistralian… boy? Girl? – it was hard to tell – who stood at five foot nine, with a pale oriental complexion and unassuming build. Their face was ovular and pretty, bearing a small, round snub nose, bow-like lips, and pink monolid, eyes. Their hair was pitch black with a pink streak of hair on the left side of their head, and framed their face in a shaggy esq bob, with the rest of their hair tied back into a low, thin Mistralian ponytail that ended at the small of their back.

They wore a long sleeved, asymmetrical, green cheongsam-esq jacket with black and gold swirl patterns over a pair of white pants that lead to a pair of black leather boots.

The more animated – and talkative – of the two was a short, broad-shouldered girl of five foot one, she had a fair complexion and a muscular build with generous curves. Her face was diamond shaped and energetic, bearing a button nose, heart shaped lips, and large electric blue eyes. Her ginger hair was a pale orange color and fell loosely from a side part, with two "wing-like" curls sprouting from the nape of her neck.

She was dressed in a white, high necked, muscle shirt – which bore a small keyhole in the shape of a heart – with matching detached sleeves that was covered by a black, sleeveless vest that bore reinforcing metal that framed her breasts, under this she wore a thigh length pink skirt with white, folded down boots that bore pink laces and a matching pair of fingerless driving gloves.

"Oh, Renny, we need a signal!" The energetic short stack proclaimed. "Like, like a robin!" She gasped. "No, a sloth!"

"Nora." Renny replied in a somehow husky yet androgynous voice. "I don't think sloths make noise."

"Excuse me." Jaune called out as he approached. "I hate to interrupt, but I can't seem to find my lockers, neither one of you would've happened to see lockers six-two-three through six, would ya'?"

Nora bounced up to Jaune and rocked on her feet as she answered. "It's two clusters down on the right!"

"T-Thank you." Jaune stuttered, trying desperately to remain a gentleman as Nora's rocking did… interesting things to her form, before turning to leave with a sudden desire for pudding. "See you later, and I hope y'alls signal works!"

"You too!" Nora cheered before bouncing back to Ren. "He's a good guy!"

"How can you tell?"

"Because I was practically bouncing my chi-chi's in his face and he didn't even try to sneak a peek once!"

"Nora…" Ren sighed heavily. "Wait, did he say lockers?"

Jaune, meanwhile, followed Nora's directions and found his lockers... Which were currently blocked by the albino and another girl.

Said girl was a statuesque, pear-shaped bombshell who stood at six foot four – eye to eye with Jaune – with a pale olive complexion and curves to die for. Her face was friendly and a gentle inverted triangular shape, with a straight nose, full lips, and almond shaped emerald-green eyes that were framed by faint green eye shadow. Her hair was long, silky, and a deep red in color that was pulled back into a high ponytail kept in place by a bronze tiara with an emerald set in the center.

She was dressed in a brown, bronze reinforced corset over a black miniskirt that was covered by a long, red sash with a set of bronze cuisses, poleyns, and greaves that lead to a pair of brown, fold down four-inch heels, she also wore a detached bronze gorget. On her back was a large bronze hoplon shield with two half-moon cutouts on the sides and a short sword with an elongated handle.

She was also the most gorgeous girl Jaune had ever seen, which proved to be a problem as Jaune always made a fool out of himself when talking with a pretty girl – Ruby and Yang didn't count as they reminded him of his sisters, and Nora, Blake, and potentially Renny didn't because they had very curt conversations.

Pulling himself up by his bootstraps, Jaune approached the pair and gently cleared his throat – trying desperately to keep his voice even, as he'd die from embarrassment if his voice cracked.

-/-

Pyrrha kept her "photograph smile" up as she slowly lost interest in the… talking to, she was having with Weiss. Who proved just how foolish her plans were for thinking she'd escape her fame by coming to Beacon.

Now don't get her wrong, she knew she was being unfair to a degree – as she made more money than most people ever would – but she felt it didn't disregard people constantly pestering her for dates or asking her what underwear she wore during her fights or trying to buy said used underwear. Was that too much to ask for? She was fine taking pictures, even holding peoples all too handsy babies, but she could do without all the creeps and invasion of privacy.

Honestly, she could do without the money too, it was just too much trouble than it was worth. All she ever wanted was to test herself against others and push her limits – and fighting was the best way she could do that! She never wanted to be famous, both herself and her parents too naive and ignorant to decline when the agents came a' knocking.

Now, all she wanted was one person, one, who treated her like a normal person. Not some unreachable pedestal or political pawn. She wanted someone who saw her as Pyrrha, just Pyrrha, the girl who loved chocolate cake and sappy romcoms, who was deathly afraid of spiders and the dentist, who had other interest than fighting. All. The. Gods damn. Time!

Was that really too much to ask for?!

Pyrrha was freed from her rapidly decline into depression by someone clearing their throat to her left. Turning she saw a tall, attractive in a half rugged, half boyish sort of way blonde. Though his face was a blank slate, his body language gave away his nervousness.

"Oh, great… another fanboy." Pyrrha thought glumly, readying herself for four years of misery-

"Can you please move? You're in front of my lockers and I'd like to get ready."

"Wait, what?!" Pyrrha though before dumbly replying. "I-I'm sorry?"

"My lockers." The blonde replied curtly. "You're in front of them. Please move."

"O-Okay." Pyrrha stuttered as she backed away, staring at the blonde like a unicorn had just materialized in front of her, before thinking hopefully. "Does… does he not know who I am!"

Only for Weiss to open her mouth and scoff. "Do you not know who that is?!"

"No." The blonde replied curtly, opening three lockers and going through them.

"She's Pyrrha Nikos!"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jaune." The blonde turned towards Pyrrha and smiled – which made her heart flutter – sticking out his hand. "Short, sweet, rolls of the tongue." His smile turned roguish and made Pyrrha start to leak like a faucet. "Ladies love it!"

"This one does…" Pyrrha thought dreamily. "P-Pleasure…"

Weiss, meanwhile, growled. "She graduated top of her class at Sanctum!"

"Congrats." Jaune smiled at Pyrrha.

"T-Thanks…" Pyrrha blushed.

"She's won the Mistral Region Tournament four years in a row!" Weiss snarled, grounding her teeth. "A new record!"

"The what?"

Weiss face was now beat red from anger as she yelled. "She's on the front of every Pumpkin Pete's Marshmallow Flakes box!" All the while frantically waving her arms around like a toddler throwing a temper tantrum.

Jaune looked at Weiss like she'd grown a second head. "The fuck's a Pumpkin Pete?"

Weiss sputtered and scoffed for a minute, before stomping away in a huff.

Jaune looked on at the retreating form of Weiss with genuine concern on his face, before shaking his head and turning back to his gear. "She's gonna give herself an ulcer if she doesn't get a lid on that anger of hers…"

Pyrrha, seeing an opportunity to make a real friend for the first time in four years, timidly walked forward and rocked forward with her hands behind her back. "What 'cha doin'?"

"Getting my gear together." Jaune replied, pulling out a heavy, segmented cuirass and strapping it onto his frame.

"Oh…" Pyrrha said dumbly. "But… why do you have so much?"

"Because." Jaune answered patiently. "No one set of gear is going to work for all situations."

"Oh, I… didn't think of that."

"Most Hunters don't." Jaune replied. "They think their Aura and fancy mech-shift weapons'll see 'em through hell n' high water." He looked at Pyrrha with a piercing gaze. "And let me tell you, they won't." He suddenly stopped and looked Pyrrha up and down, which strangely excited her, before exclaiming. "Your armor sucks, by the way."

"W-What?" Pyrrha stuttered, not expecting that response.

"Your armor sucks." Jaune repeated. "It looks like it was made for a stripper instead of a warrior, if we both make it through initiation we'll need to get together and get you something more useful."

Pyrrha was… conflicted – on one hand, she was insulted by being compared to a stripper, and on the other, this presented an opportunity to get closer to Jaune. But before she could reply, Ms. Goodwitch's voice sounded out throughout the room.

"Would all first-year applicants please report to the cliffs. I repeat, would all first-year applicants please report to the cliffs."

"Whelp." Jaune sighed, pulling out a backpack and a large, wrapped bundle from his locker. "That's our que." He smiles. "See you out in the Shit!"

Pyrrha blinked as Jaune rushed off. "The… the what?"

Now this story was partly inspired by "Pragmatism, Thy Name is Jaune", as you'll see in later chapters - if I ever write any. If you have any questions, leave them in the reviews or send me a PM and I'll try my best to answer them.

Also, I'm thinking about switching up the teams, so if you have any suggestions of who should be partnered up with who, let me know - it'll be interesting to write.

And hoo boy, the last two years have been tough, let me tell you. My sister got locked up, my aunt got a liver transplant and is now living with us, my nephew's trying his damndest to follow in his mother's footsteps, and my niece just started puberty - at the ripe old age of eight! Needless to say, the last year's not been good on my mental health - and more importantly my desire to write. So, if anyone was wondering, that's why I've not written in like, two years.

Thank you all for reading, I hope you have a nice day. I'm going to bed as I stayed up and wrote this listening to Survivorman instead of sleeping.