The Doll was a doll. Inorganic. An automaton.
The Doll was also intimately tied to the Dream. It was what made her alive. Without its influence she would be just an empty 'Doll'. A perfect replica of life but lacking the mind and soul that made people more than just flesh and blood.
Violet had been introduced to her but was still vary of her. The magic picking up on her anxiety and categorising the Doll a threat. A simple oversight on his part.
The Dream was unnatural, cruel in its disregard, and made up of forces far more powerful than simple magic. A facet that Jaune had done his best to ignore. It wasn't that he was blind to its evils, but that he had chosen to bury his head in the sand until he gained a better grasp of the Supernatural, of magic, and of the arcane.
Violet had instead accidentally starred into the abyss, and the abyss had stared back.
Gehrman might be the caretaker of hunters who passed through the dream; however it was the Doll that was its mouthpiece, it's conduit to interact with anything inside. It wasn't the Doll that had informed him of where the rune toll had been taken. He coulndt count the times the dream had spoken trough the doll, having noticed it the first time right before the 'incident'. His 'spirit vision' having deepened after reaching thirty insight, a parting gift from the undead giant. What allowed him to notice the headmasters apathy was the same thing that allowed him to notice the Doll's shifts, seamless as they were.
It wasn't the Doll the Intuition spell had called dangerous.
It was an oversight on his part. And it was an oversight that had led to Violet's head popping like a grape. Having coated him and the Doll in chunks of grey matter and blood. He didn't even have the time to dispel the magic before it had been too late.
That had been six nights ago, and Violet still never left his side. Sleeping in the dream or clinging to him during the waking hours. All the progress they had made at breaking her out of her shell removed in an instant. Not that he could blame her, he was just glad that she didn't fear the doll. Instead she didn't remember anything that had happened since casting the ritual. Thinking she had fallen asleep after performing the ritual.
Jaune didn't know if she was just repressing it, or if the dream itself had muddled her memories. And he didn't know which was worse.
Yet that didn't take away the feeling of guilt, of failure, that weighted on him. He had been caught up in the excitement, happy and proud for Violet. Performing your first ritual was a big thing, up there with a lot if important firsts.
Huffing like a bull, smoke flew out his nostrils. Another drag of his pipe dampened the volatile cocktail of emotions that was set to blow.
"Come doggy, good doggy, where are you doggy." Jaune cooed, lisping slightly, not taking his pipe out of his mouth. It was Thursday night; the guilt of seeing his apprentice dying due to his mistake scorched him inside out, and he had spent the last six nights scouring the labyrinth. Knowing just who he would take his frustration out on.
Unfortunately, beside the scare the first night, he hadn't seen hide nor hair from the burning dog again.
Which was frustrating, as Jaune needed to kill the damn thing.
Eye twitching as he stepped into another room, greeted with blades from madmen instead of the fiery maws of his query.
Frustration, anger, guilt, Crocea Mors raced through the air. Drawing a thin line over the closest madman torso. The man managing to take one step before gravity took hold and separated his torso and right arm from his body. Dashing forward, Jaune dodged and spun around most attacks. Letting the rest bounce harmlessly against his aura.
Crocea Mors's edge didn't cut, bite, gash, or tear. Passing effortlessly trough the madmen as if they were made of wet paper. An arm fell off with a quick feint, brain matter squirmed as if still alive, not noticing how half the skull was missing. Guts spilled freely from clean wounds.
Sidestepping, not wanting to get a face full of fireball, Jaune dashed at a beast-possessed soul. Crocea Mors cutting straight through it's wrist, not snagging at bone, or even leaving a deep gash in its hide like skin. Twirling his sword through the air, the beast head flew through the air.
Allowing him a second to look over the carnage he had caused. Taking his pipe out from his mouth, he blew a whistle in appreciation. Dumping pipe weed batch seven in the carnage. Not having liked how the thicker taste dulled his sense of smell and taste. It was one thing to smoke; it was another to actively harm his capabilities.
"I really shouldn't have waited so long to upgrade Crocea Mors." Jaune whistled appreciatively. While he only had the twin blood stone shards to push his fortify his partner two more times. The labyrinth had given him a surplus of single blood stone shards. Pushing him to splurge a bit, transmuting twenty-four normal shards to create the twin stone shards he had needed to further fortify his partner. Manging to push the total fortifications of Crocea Mors to six instead.
Crocea Mors's edge had grown almost supernatural sharp. If he held the blade out horizontally, a falling leaf would split in two as it fell through the air. He just knew in his bones, that if he hadn't waited to fortify Crocea Mors. He wouldn't have needed to go through the trouble of tripping up the Undead Giant with its chains, he could have just destroyed it's knee with one or two well placed strikes.
While fortifying Crocea Mors three more times to a total of six wasn't an as quantitative change to his combat potential as his ritual circle, it had still skyrocketed. 'It didn't help that I slotted a better gem, however I'm still unused to each blow being more draining even if Crocea Mors is lighter.' Jaune hummed to himself. It seemed that everything touched by the blood was both improved in some way and cursed as well.
He had tried testing the two other gems as well. One gem steadily drained his lifeforce into Crocea, not stopping until he had popped the gem out. And the last gem somehow made her edge weaken against beastly enemies. Between being sucked dry and dealing less damage. Each swing being a tad bit more exhausting wasn't that bad of a deal.
"But… I can't wait until I get my hands on more gems. Is it possible to change the transmutation ritual? Makin one gem have all the positive's, and another hold all the negatives?" Jaune thought aloud. A bit sour that he had only found three blood gems so far. He didn't know if it was because the floor, or the area in the labyrinth he was in, was leaning more towards blood stone shards than gems. But while blood stone shards were extremely good to have, he had enough.
Both Violet and Aurora had two nest eggs tucked away, each sister having enough shards to push a chosen weapon all the way to triple fortified. While it was tempting to use the shards and transmute them twice, giving him the possibility to further fortify his weapon. He didn't want to overwhelm Crocea Mors, her handle had already further transformed into a dark red. Her blade twinkled like silver, making the dark red fuller even more pronounced. Even her pommel had changed into a diamond shape, more than sharp enough to draw blood if he bashed someone with it. That she radiated a 'heat' just another reason.
He didn't know if it was because she had absorbed some of his lifeforce before he unslotted the gem, or if it was because of being triple fortified in quick succession. But holding her handle felt a lot like holding a hand. A living hand. The handle was 'livingly' warm, not how fire was warm, or how summer heat was warm, but how a hug was warm.
And sometimes, just like holding hands, he felt her squeeze his hand fondly.
He didn't know if he was just him losing his mind, the prolonged exposure to the Labyrinth had pushed his paranoia even further, something that made him glad that this was the day of his supposed deadline. Or if there really was something else going on. But, while he didn't know what was happening with Crocea Mors, he wanted her to grow comfortable in her new abilities before further fortifying her.
A gentle warmth squeezed his hand. Squeezing back, Jaune smiled. His partner's warmth a gentle balm on his troubled mind. It helped breaking apart his downwards spiral. No matter how he furiously racked his brain, there was no way he could remember what led the burning dog to him.
Because it had been led to him. He had explored more of the labyrinth for the last six nights. And he had never seen it. There were no pawprints, no smell of ash or brimstone to lead him to it. There hadn't even been burning hairs left behind when he returned to the mirror room. Making him almost think the dog was a spectre. And since today was his self-imposed deadline, he wanted to, if not slay it, find out how to conjure it.
"What did I do different, what did I do different…" Jaune mumbled, stepping into a mausoleum room. Familiar statues of women begging for salvation of some kind littered the room, the torches in their hand being so close to their hands it would cause blisters to form. Making him think the statues prayed just as much for the torment to stop, as they did for salvation. The statues littered everywhere in Yharnam. So lifelike in their depictions that he sometimes wondered if they were women who had been cemented alive.
Walking around the room, his fingers trailed over the sarcophagus. A sleeping woman of stone resting on top of it. Two red droplets in her eyes. Jaune let the blood gems be, not wanting to cross that last line. There was one thing to search dead bodies, but it was another matter entirely to desecrate tombs and graves. It was one of the reasons he hadn't investigated the ghost fire ball outside the Old Workshop. He wasn't that far gone yet.
"Mausoleum, a colosseum, an aisle for preaching, an empty nave for a missing congregation. Grand cathedrals after grand cathedrals, marble on marble, crumbling splendour and luxury. Who built this labyrinth? What is it a tomb for?" Jaune muttered.
Tombs and graves were for the living, not for the dead. Monuments to love, faith, history. A legacy for those who died, a place where the living could go to mourn.
"What faith, what mad devotion spurred believers on to build this tomb? Was Yharnam built on the tomb, or was the tomb built by Yharnamites?" Biting his lounge, he stopped himself from following that train of thoughts. He wasn't here to study, and he already knew where he would find his answer's. Deeper into the tomb. "Always deeper, always blood, always rot, always death."
Feeling the wailing statues eyes following him. Jaune took that as a sign that he had overstayed his welcome. Not wanting to find out if they would make him stay with them forever.
Stepping into a corridor guarded over by two large winged statues, Jaune felt as if the statues were judging him. The statues lifelike visages to humanly imperfect. Lending weight to his theory that they were women trapped in stone. Shaking the idea out of his mind he picked up the pace.
The corridor thankfully mostly empty, only a pack of mongrels scratching at the tiles his company. They were quickly taken care of, a gout of fire lighting up the corridor like a second sun. Burning away anything that stood in his path.
Stepping past the burning smouldering corpses, Jaune took puff from his pipe. Thinking of what he had done differently last time. Coming to a screeching halt and shooting a look at the mongrels as they dissipated into ash. Brimstone tickling his nose.
Instantly Jaune dashed back into the mausoleum. Taking inventory as he ran, throwing his pipe weed over his shoulder and pocketing it. Eyes twinkling as he threw a quick look over his shoulders. Fire blazing from the other side of the corridor. The unmistakable sound of a wolf's howl echoing down, the taste of brimstone hung in the air, his heart hammering in his chest.
Dashing into the mausoleum, Jaune was quick to look over what he could use to his advantage. The lifelike statues would do good to split up the wolf pack but do nothing against the burning wolf. But that was good enough for him. He just needed a way to split the herald from the wolf pack for a moment, so he didn't drown under their onslaught.
Quickly the embryo of a plan formed in his mind. Jaune running to hide himself behind one of the large winged statues by the entrance the wolf would come from. Coating Crocea Mors in a thin layer of gallnut broth as he thought up other contingencies.
Instantly dismissing Suffocation. It was a good spell, room clearing was right up its alley. Unfortunately he didn't want to turn this into a game to see who could hold their breath the longest. The spell might have choked the life out of the fire around it, but he didn't think he could hold his breath longer than it. It wasn't something he was willing to bet on at least.
Instead he cast Harm Delay, a spell that quicky had become one of his go-to spells. It was extremely simple, instead of being harmed now, it would delay any injuries for a week. After the elapsed time, all the injuries delayed will instantly manifest. The caster could also at will release the damage, dividing a cut of hand into smaller and smaller manageable portions.
It was how he had managed the aftereffects of casting Unbound Self, no matter how much he pumped his Vitality, removing all the body's limiters would still be a double-edged sword. He would be faster, stronger, react faster, and much more, but just moving would put a strain on his body. A strain that could prove fatal if he didn't handle it with care.
Unfortunately, Harm Delay had some drawbacks. The magic that detected and categorized harm only lasted for an hour, when it was up, he would be hurt like everyone else. It also only worked on natural physical harm were the two most prominent. Magic would hurt him just as anyone else, and it could be dispelled. But despite those flaws, it was still a great piece of kit, especially when he didn't know what he would be facing.
Looking up at the statue he hid behind, Jaune muttered a soft apology. Bending down and prying his partner under the statue. Testing that his partner didn't bend and that he got proper leverage. For such a large stone statue, it was surprisingly light, making him think this wasn't going to be as effective as he hoped.
The smell of brimstone wafted out of the corridor, the sound of clawed feet tearing up the marble tiles coming closer by the second. Closing his eyes, Jaune counted, springing into action when he knew the beast was just about to enter the mausoleum. Tipping the statue, the large winged woman crashed straight into the burning wolf as it came exploding out from the corridor. Cracks spread over the statue, shattering into a shower of blacks blood clinging to shards of stone and maggot infested organs.
The rotten blood didn't douse the flames, neither did the beast look hurt from it, only enraged. Turning it's burning maw towards him, Jaune got to take a second look at the beast.
It was tall, massive. A grotesque fusion of beast and flame. It's body was encased in charred, blackened fur. A grotesque maw stared back at him with sulphuric acid dropping from its maw. Wreath of flames engulfed it's body, hungry tongues of fire licking at its charred form. A living ball of coal, a furnace made of flesh and bone, a living incarnation of flame and fury.
Charging at it, Jaune slid between the wolfpack with grace that looked unnatural. The burning skeletal hounds snaping at empty space. Slipping under the beast, he cut towards the legs. Tsking when the wolf jumped, dexterously turning on the spot, a burning maw filled with teeth greeting him.
Not one to so simply be outmanoeuvred, Jaune pirouetted, cutting deep on it's right front leg as he spun out from under its belly. Sulphuric acid dripped out from the wound, sizzling and popping as it came in contact with the thin layer of gallnut broth on his blade. Twirling his sword, he brought the skeletal dogs on a chase between the statues. Knowing that he coulndt turn this into a battle of attrition. It was already one versus a dozen, time wasn't on his side. And he didn't want to bet to see if it's flames were magical or not.
Bringing his shield up, he bashed it into the maw of a burning skeletal dog. Bone shards exploding outwards from the impact. The fire letting go of the charred bones, letting it collapse in a heap. Making sure the sarcophagus was between him and the burning beast, quickly taking out two more of the pack. They were fodder, only dangerous because of who they followed.
Instincts blaring to life as a maw of teeth and fire appeared around him. Chomping down on him, aura shining as he was surrounded by the stench of brimstone. The burning beast throwing its head around before sending him crashing through a dozen statues. Fetid blood exploding out as he slammed back first into the wall. Shaking the dizziness away, he feinted a dash forwards.
Slipping around a burning claw his revenge was swift, a deep cut trailing trough charred flesh behind him as he bashed the skull of another burning skeleton asunder. This time turning on the spot and making sure he didn't take his eyes of his quarry. An amateur mistake that had costed him most of his aura. Sulphuric acid sizzled against his aura, bringing it closer and closer to its breaking point.
Dropping his shield, he smoothly drew his pistol. A silver bullet digging into its hind leg's kneecap. The wolf's charge instantly coming to a halt as it's leg locked up. Sidestepping, the wolf slammed face first into the sarcophagus. Cracks spread out from the point of impact, black fetid blood seeping through them.
Squishing a squirming maggot under his boot, he rushed at the beast. Bringing down his sword with all his might at its locked hind leg. Cutting the limb clean off. Sulphuric acid flowed from the wound, creating a vicious concoction when it came in contact with the fetid blood. Before he could think any more of it, he stepped around a burning skeletal hound as it came to its master's protection and slammed his partner into it's other hind leg. Cutting into joint's, muscle and bone before tearing his blade out.
Making space between him and the burning beast before he was swarmed by burning hounds. Holstering his revolver he danced between the hound, quickly making his way over to his shield. Stomping down on its side and launching it up in the air where he caught it just in time to bash another burning hound skull against it.
A deep rumble rang through the air, an angry snarl echoed out in the chamber. Jaune didn't need eyes in the back of his head to know the burning beast was coming towards him. Turning on the spot, bashing another skull in, he saw the fiery hellbeast drag itself towards him in its two front legs. Smoke escaping in great gouts as it panted and dragged itself towards him.
Dashing at it, he dodged around a half-hearted attempt to bite him. Crocea Mors easily thrusting into the wound on its side. Turning his sword, he pulled out with all his might. Backstepping as more sulphuric acid came spilling out. Blinking away tears as he coughed. Eyes going wide as the fiery beast tried throwing itself at him, rolling into its back and viciously clawing at him with its last leg. Maw snapping threateningly at him as it got closer.
With a quick downwards slash, bones fell harmlessly into the corrosive blood pool that covered the floor. Popping and sizzling as the charred bones were eaten.
Cleaving into the fiery beast's rapidly decomposing torso, Jaune cringed as he pulled out another piece of the bone amulet. Bringing his arm into its chest one more time as he pulled out a chalice. It was decorated with finery. Its surface adorned with intricate carvings and runes. Crimson gems, like twinkling rubies, lined its side's.
Feeling something 'click' he brought out the other amulet piece, holding it towards the chalice. Tsking when he found himself missing a piece of the whole. Having Isolde spirit everything into the dream, Jaune broke.
Coughing out a ball of black blood. A raspy laugh escaping him as worms and maggots swam trough the sulphuric acid and fetid blood mixture. Ravenously consuming the blood he had spat out.
"It's a supernatural poison gas, isn't it." Jaune coughed again, blood dripping down his chin. His aura was long gone, eaten up by the acid a while ago. Leaving his only protection against the gas his vitality and his Harm Delay ritual.
Blinking, the world turned blurry. Pushing through it, Jaune forced himself to move out of the mausoleum. Forcing himself to drink from a blood vial before he collapsed. Eyes shooting wide open in panic as he felt the tightening in his chest contract violently as the healing blood only made it worse.
Going over what healing spells he had slotted as he coughed his lungs out, Jaune swore. Casting Regeneration, his legs gave out. The blood cloth's in his lungs growing exceptionally as the healing only sped up his natural regeneration. Doing nothing to remove or heal the growing blood cloth's. In a fit of desperation, he picked up an antidote packet and swallowed it whole. All ten pellets and the paper container disappearing into his gullet. Coughing up paper and some half-released capsules.
"I need more healing spells. Not just for physical wounds. Everything. Poison, curses, everything." Jaune swore, legs giving out as he collapsed seven steps into the hallway. Everything going dark.
####
"Nora, can I borrow some makeup?" Jaune asked, doing his best to ignore the silence that suddenly fell over their dorm. There was still an hour or two till the dance began, but an electrifying atmosphere had settled over the entire academy. If you looked out of the window you could see groups of friends already hanging out, pre drinking slightly. Music was banged trough thin walls, if you were brave enough to step out into the hallway a veritable sea of nervous young adults gathered, trying in vain to score a last-minute date, or meet their date early.
"What for?" Nora asked, looking up from a vanity mirror as she applied some light makeup. Almost finished dressing up.
"I want to cover this." He answered plainly, holding up his right hand. Showing of his birth rune and the rune circles in his palm. "Not that I have any problem with showing it, but it's a dance. And I rather not make anyone uncomfortable if I could help it."
"Yeah, sure." Nora beamed happily. Quickly taking Ren's chair, he sat down beside her. Violet looking up at him. A curious mix of curiosity and nerves in her eyes. Her white hair pulled neatly into an elegant braided bun. She was dressed in a cute floral ball gown. Something he had found in the labyrinth. He had also found a chamber pot down there, so had long given up trying to categorize his finds. A lucky find was a lucky find, and he would leave it at that.
Grabbing the foundation, he quickly began working his magic. It didn't take long before his rune mark disappeared, a whistle of appreciating escaping Nora. "If I hadn't known that you had that rune thingy on your hand, I would never guess that you had anything there."
"I have seven sisters, I spent hours as their makeup doll. I picked up a thing or two." Jaune shrugged, adding a layer of foundation before grabbing the concealer.
"Seven sisters?" Violet whispered, counting on her fingers in disbelief. Looking up at him as he had grown another head. Eyes shining with mirth he pulled out his scroll, quickly bringing up a family picture. A familiar thing where he looked more dead than alive, hair in two short pigtails. Sitting on the red couch with a sign that said help. His six sisters around him their usual selves. Taken when Bloom was still in her crib.
"Whoa~" Violet marvelled, running a hand over the picture. Smiling softly, he went back to covering up his runic circle. Clenching his hand once or twice to check that the makeup didn't crack. It was mostly for others sake, and all huntsmen-in-training should at least be somewhat comfortable with the idea of scars. But it was a bit different when the runic circle looked freshly carved. The lines just as crimson as the moment he had first lied eyes on it.
"Now, time to get the little princess dolled up." Jaune said, gently taking his scroll back as he got up and lifted Violet onto the chair. Quickly shooting Nora a silent look asking for permission, greeted with a megawatt grin. Knowing that was all he needed, he began giving her a light layer of makeup. Nothing outstanding, just hiding some blemished, turning her cheeks a healthy rose, and making her eyes 'pop' more.
"And… done." He mussed, grabbing Nora's vanity mirror and showing Violet his work. A gasp escaping her as her reflection stared back at her.
"I think a little pre-party of our own is in order." Nora beamed, pulling out five champagne glasses together with two glass bottles. One containing champagne and one that contained an alcohol-free kid friendly champagne lookalike.
"Nora, where did you get that?" Ren sighed, his expression one of exasperation instead of frustration.
"It's not like the staff was doing anything with it." Nora shrugged, popping of the cork and pouring four glasses. "They had bottles from fifty years ago there, so it's not like they will miss it."
"Beacon has a no alcohol on campus policy." Ren sighed.
"Eh, semantics. It's not like we aren't all legal drinking age." Nora shrugged, gesturing with her head towards the window. Where Jaune knew there was a friend group already pre drinking. Some took the dance seriously, other wanted to have fun, maybe get laid, and some just wanted an excuse to either get drunk or party. Or both, not that he had much experience to draw from.
"Maybe we shouldn't talk about 'borrowing' things without permission." Jaune tried half-heartedly.
"Jaune, you spent over an hour yesterday teaching Violet the difference between a toxic poison and a paralytic one, how to safely apply them to her misericord, and where to strike so the poison would work as quickly as possible." Nora deadpanned. He was about to open his mouth before she shushed him, apparently not done. "Then there is the fact that your semblance is a walking PTSD factory."
"I can't have PTSD." Jaune butted in with a nod. "Since there is nothing 'post' about my trauma, it can't be PTSD."
Nora gave him the flattest look imaginable, sighing heavily and gesturing wildly at him. Words failing her. With a huff she shook her head, pouring Violet a glass of the child friendly cider. "That you can say that with a straight face is cause for concern enough."
"Eh, I think it's more about how my semblance is sat up. Since I don't sleep, the worst of my nightmares and other terrors don't affect me as much. Of course there's the paranoia, living ghosts, stress, or insight, -induced hallucinations, and more." Jaune shrugged. He didn't know if it was the blood, the dream, a byproduct of his blood echo infusions, or just plain him. But he had adjusted to the voices in his head, and he had grown used to seeing blood on his hands when he washed him. The scariest part was that he didn't know if he had always been resilient like that, or the blood was changing him without him noticing.
"No." Nora said strongly, pushing a glass filled with champagne into his hands, before doing the same with the rest. "No dreams, no monsters, no blood, no grades, no assignments. Today, we are going to drink. We are going to make merry. And most importantly of all, we are going to have fun. Leave tomorrow too tomorrow, and let's just have a simple fun evening."
"I will toast to that." Pyrrha chimed in. Raising her glass with a smile. Her eyes crinkling with relief and expertly hidden worry.
"I think we all can." Ren chuckled, taking the glass and slipping the talisman he had been working on for better part of a week into his front breast pocket.
"Toast for a great evening." Jaune smiled, lifting up Violet so she could toast with them. Blue eyes sparkling as she held out her own glass.
The glasses clinking together, quickly downing his glass, Jaune placed in on the closest desk. Wilfully ignoring the pained glare Pyrrha sent him. The only reason she didn't rub her forehead was that she didn't want to smear her makeup. "Jaune, you sip champagne. You take your time with it. Savor the taste, melt the bubbles on your tongue before swallowing. You don't slam it back like a shot, Jaune."
Instead of answering her, he gestured over at Nora. The pink bomber vigorously mixing a second drink. Pouring both wine and champagne into a drink mixer and eagerly shaking it.
"Don't drink that." Jaune warned. Not needing his knowledge about plants and concoctions to know she was going to have a very special evening if she did.
"Come on, fearless leader. It's our last day before moving dorms, let's go out with a bang, ok?" Nora grinned, popping the cork of an old whiskey bottle and pouring it in. Pouring some water into the shaker for good measure, she began shaking it. A megawatt grin on her face.
Twenty seconds later, she took of the stopper and eagerly gave her concoction a smell.
Slamming the shaker down on her desk, Nora darted into the bathroom.
Letting his curiosity get the better of him, Jaune grabbed the shaker, smelling the unholy concoction she came up with. Dipping his pinkie in it, he took a little taste. Rapidly blinking as the taste hit him.
"Jaune, I'm curious about something. How come hamsters and lemmings have better self-preservation instincts than you?" Ren half joked half asked seriously. Setting his own glass down and getting up, throwing a quick glance to the clock. "But maybe we should think about heading out."
"It's not that bad actually." Jaune said, smacking his lips as he took a sip. "And, well, die enough times and after a while you begin measuring your lives in 'what can I learn or what can I get away with' mentality."
"Team JNPR moving out!" Nora announced, still a bit pale faced, but looking over them before marching out the door. Setting Violet's glass on a table, he took her hand as they filed out. Softly sipping on Nora's concoction, which wasn't the worst thing he had tasted. Even if it was unique to say the least.
Setting foot in the hallways was a completely different experience than normally, Violet quickly clinging to him. All the chatter, loud music, laughter, everything sat her on edge. Not that he could blame her. It was a lot. He hadn't allowed her to cast the Intuition ritual again, scared that her emotions would colour the magic and set it off again. Something he was thankful for now.
'But I need to work on her anxiety. I can't have her fooling her own spell.' Jaune thought, looking down at his apprentice and squeezing her hand. She shot him a nervous smile, obviously wanting to be here, but not feeling safe in the crowd.
"Head on, I'm going to stay with Violet a bit until the crowd thins." Jaune called out, having to talk louder if his team was going to hear him over all the chatter around them.
######
"Looking great P-Money." Yang called out, blossoming smile on her face as she wandered over to her.
"P-Money?" Pyrrha asked, the blond brawler only grinning and shrugging. "Weisscream needled me about her nickname, so I decided to spruce it up a bit. But back to you P-Money. But if you don't like it, I have something better. Pyrrhfection. Eh? Not bad right?"
A pearl of laughter escaped Pyrrha, Yang's grin growing ever wider. Throwing a friendly punch at the champions arm. "There you go, it's a ball, and you looked like you wanted to be anywhere else. Where is your team by the way? I don't see Jaune and Violet anywhere. And don't tell me Nora and Ren have snuck out for a 'private rendezvous'?"
Wiggling her eyebrows, Yang gave her a lecherous grin that cracked at the edges as she struggled to not laugh.
"No, no, nothing of the sort." Pyrrha smiled, taking a sip from the punch. "Nora got experimental with her drink mixing. And you know, whenever Nora goes, Ren goes."
Looking around the ballroom, she saw her teammates clinging to each other in a corner. It looked a lot like a brother trying to comfort his sister, more familial than romantic. But her two teammates love lives wasn't a rabbit hole Pyrrha particularly wanted to delve into. To say it was complicated was an understatement. They particularly changed from platonic actions to romantic gestures and back to familial love at the drop of a hat.
She wasn't sure if they wanted to be something more, stay what they were, or something else entirely. But she knew what she wanted, even if Jaune wasn't receptive to her affection, she still wanted to get the words out.
It hurt, seeing him change so rapidly before her eyes. She coulndt explain the worry, fear, and hurt she felt whenever he looked in a window and just disappeared. He could gloss over it as much as he wanted, wave his pretty lies promising her that he was 'fine', that he was getting better. When he was anything but. He really had a tongue of silver.
"How experimental are we talking?" Yang asked, bringing her out from her spiralling thoughts. Smiling, she shoved all her anxiety and worries in a box with well-practiced ease.
"She mixed wine, whiskey and champagne." Pyrrha said simply, hiding a smile behind her cup as Yang blanched. Giving her a stare as if waiting for some inevitable punchline. Breaking over in ugly giggling, wiping a tear out of her eye as she laughed.
"Oh gods, how? Why?" Yang wheezed. "And here I thought my team was unhinged." Then something flashed in her eyes, pale lilac eyes quickly darting around as she looked around the room. "But, for real, how did Nora get her hands on all that? I have three detentions with the Proof because she got my stash."
"Are you sure that isn't because your team ratted you out?" Pyrrha asked, knowing just how much a stickler for propriety Weiss was. That she would rat out her teammate for hiding 'contraband' wouldn't surprise her in the slightest. She would have contemplated doing the same if she had known Nora had hidden alcohol in their room. While she did enjoy a good drink with good company every now and then, she didn't want Violet to get to curious and try.
Alcohol was to be savoured once in a while, not to be slammed back like it was going out of style. Which was honestly how Yang drank. Pyrrha coulndt imagine the spitfire doing anything else.
"That… bitch." Yang murmured as she lit up, her hair beginning to glow before she wrangled her temper under control. "If that's how things are, then I won't feel bad for her new nickname."
"Yang, don't be cruel." Pyrrha warned. She knew that team RWBY didn't have the best dynamic, but she had seen how much effort Ruby put in to try and make the multiple strong personalities come together. She wasn't about to let Yang do anything to jeopardise her sisters effort.
Tsking loudly, Yang still looked cross, but willing to be the bigger person for now.
Hiding a sigh, Pyrrha half-heartedly wondered why she ever wanted to go to Beacon in the beginning. Her team was a mess, a lovable mess, but a mess nonetheless. Her only friends outside her team consisted of a girl with anger issues worse than a toddler and a thirst for violence that could almost rival hers. A former terrorist and the daughter of the chieftain of Menagerie. 'Come on Blake. Belladona, it's like you didn't try.' Weiss who saw her as champion first and Pyrrha second, even if she had gotten better, a lot better lately. And Ruby was a prodigy who had gotten in two years early with a weapon fetish and an obsession with cookies.
'Stop thinking so negatively Pyrrha. You are better than that.' She thought to herself, knowing she had let her frustration at the current situation bleed into her thoughts. But she coulndt help it. Throwing a look around the room, she saw a multiple people, both men and female who wanted to try and ask her for a dance. Lacking the courage to go trough with it. 'A lot like me.'
But hadn't that been exactly why she wanted to enrol in Beacon at the first place? Her fame felt stifling. Everyone saw Pyrrha the champion, who had taken on licensed huntsmen in an arena and come out on top without ever getting hit. It was all her manager and agents saw. It was all her fair-weather 'friends' saw. And it was something that had followed her all the way to Vale from Mistral. No one saw Pyrrha Nikos, the girl.
And she was sick and tired of it.
"Where is Jaune and the little doll exactly?" Yang asked, cheeks rosy. Having chugged down her punch that Pyrrha was certain she had spiked with something.
"Violet got overwhelmed by the noise and chatter in the corridor." Pyrrha said simply. "But where is Ruby? Or Blake for that matter."
"Ruby is by the punch table. I love her, I really do. But I'm not going to babysit her either." Yang shrugged, looking over where Ruby sat on a chair. Clearly wanting to be everywhere but here.
"Maybe throwing her straight into the deep end right away isn't the smartest idea?" Pyrrha tried. She was a fighter at heart, and while her manager and trainers had hired tutors for her so she could better prepare for both before and after match interviews. She never had that ease with words Jaune had. Always seemingly knowing just what to say to make Violet smile or laugh. He just had a way with words that made her envious, in a good way.
"Eh, when Ruby start talking she never stops. She's an extrovert at heart. She just have to get over the hurdle that is her social anxiety." Yang said absentmindedly, filling her punch glass again. About to ask her something when a sudden hush fell over the entire ballroom. Yang's yaw hitting the floor as she pointed dumbly at the entrance of the ballroom.
Curious at what all the fuss was about, Pyrrha looked at the entrance, blinking as she tried not laughing.
Jaune stood without an ounce of shame. Dressed in the same floral ball gown Violet was. Muscles on full display, abs clearly outlined by the thin material hugged every nock and cranny. The dress showing how his muscles flexed as he walked. However, unlike his young charge who blushed deeply at the attention, Jaune strode forward without a care in the world.
"Sheesh. What do you feed him Pyrrhfection? Tall, thin and spindly? Not anymore. He is built like a slab of beef." Yang whistled, saying her thoughts exactly. She had known Jaune was getting big, hell, she had seen how his favourite hoodie was beginning to stretch around the shoulders. But never could she imagine he had filled out so much. Even if it was something she should have seen coming a mile away with how he liked to just walk around in his white shirt and hunter garb pants in the dorm.
Silvery scars littered his entire body, from deep cuts made whit sword to tears made by teeth and claws. Third degree burns were scattered around his mouth and fingers. Then in the blink of an eye the scars were gone. Leaving just her partner and friend who walked at them without a care in the world.
"Jaune got there all on his own." Pyrrha preened slightly, shaking away the lingering memories. "I helped him iron out a regime and well… he did the rest. Going well above and beyond."
"No way." Yang denied.
"No way what?" Jaune asked as he greeted them. "If it is about the dress, then it's because I wanted Violet to have something else to focus on. After all, if I can go in a dress then she has nothing to worry about."
As if to prove his point, he placed a gentle hand on Violet's back. His apprentice looking embarrassed on his behalf. But Pyrrha was quick to notice that she also looked more at ease. Some invisible weight on her shoulders gone. The loud music still unnerved her and being the only kid in a ball hosted for teenagers coulndt be easy.
"No, I just have a hard time seeing how you filled out so quickly. Are you sure you aren't using steroids?" Yang asked, giving him a scrutinising look that quickly fell as she laughed in good faith.
"He doesn't, trust me on that." Pyrrha said, quickly coming to her friends defence. "And he hasn't developed any acne, neither have his muscles 'ballooned' in size. Don't you think I, or we, wouldn't have noticed if he used steroids?"
"What are steroids?" Violet asked, looking up at Yang.
"Yes Yang, what are steroids?" Jaune pushed, giving her a glare. Sending her a little wink, Jaune gently pushed his apprentice on Yang. Joining his hand in hers and walking towards the dancefloor.
"She will get back at you for this." Pyrrha said, ignoring how her heart raced in her chest.
"Maybe." Jaune shrugged. "But you have looked tense lately, and it's a ball. Let's have fun. And she practically raised Ruby, I think I can trust her to look after Violet for a little while."
With those words he dragged her out on the dancefloor. A pearl of laughter escaping her as she followed along. There was quickly made room around them as Jaune dragged her into a gentle waltz.
Pyrrha felt the familiar feeling of having a spotlight shining down at her. The music quickly changing from some new pop to something slower. All around other people joined them in dancing. A soft mood enveloping the ballroom as a more romantic mood fell over them.
Leaning her head on his chest, she heard how his heart beat. Beating slowly, calmly, bringing her comfort and knowing that she would always have someone she could rely on. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, looking into those deep blue eyes she felt her determination grow. The words were almost on her lips, but she swallowed them, not wanting to bring it say it on the dancefloor.
Breaking the staring contest, Pyrrha let her eyes wander around. Taking in all the other couples that were dancing. Noting the more than a dozen looks that landed on them.
"What do you say about turning up the heat?" Jaune asked with a cheeky smile. Having noticed all the stares. "Really give them a show?"
"Samba?" Pyrrha asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm thinking more along the lines of Quickstep. But only if you are up for it." He challenged with a smile. His grin almost infectious.
Not one to take a challenge lying down, she grinned at him. Feeling her heart hammer in her chest. Strong, vigour's, burning in excitement at the challenge.
If the earlier dance had made butterflies dance in her stomach, this had her blood boiling. Her smile never leaving as they danced faster and faster. Making it almost a challenge of who could get the other to misstep. Blazing around other people on the dancefloor. She didn't hear the music over her laughter and beating heart.
One quick step and they further upped the tempo. Twirling around other dancers. Her heart hammering in her chest as Jaune effortlessly kept up with her. Letting her lead before just as easily taking the lead as he picked up the pace again.
Her smile never leaving her. Even when the music died down and they made their way towards the balcony she wore a grin.
"You really are an endurance monster." Pyrrha laughed, chest still rising and falling rapidly as she leaned against the railing. There was a nip in the air, not that she minded. It was just what she needed to cool down after such an exhilarating dance.
Behind her she heard Nora saying something to Yang. She didn't know what it was, but she was thankful nonetheless. While Yang was a great friend, she could be a bit much at times.
'I need to get Nora something nice.' Pyrrha absentmindedly thought to herself. She didn't know if her friend knew that she was going to confess, but she wanted, needed, to get the words of her chest. It felt almost suffocating at times.
Leaning back, the sky full of stars smiled back at her. Encouraging her on to say what she wanted.
"I wouldn't say that." Jaune chuckled. Still looking as right as rain. The only proof of the heated dance he had taken her on being a light sheen of sweat on his brow. "It's more that I have been focusing more on staying power. After all, unlike you, my fights don't end in seconds."
"They could if you focused more on sharpening your skills." Pyrrha mussed silently. Throwing out a soundless offer than she was more than willing to teach him.
"Heh, maybe you are right." Jaune sighed, leaning on the railing with her. Looking out at the gardens with a smile. "But there are multiple ways to get better, isn't there? While it was a valuable experience, I don't have the time to learn safely. I need to get better, and I need it yesterday. And… well… it might be a bit of a stretch, but I don't think many of our ancestors got time to practice when they marched to war. Only getting a spear and a sword before being pointed at their opponents. But they survived, didn't they? Passing down their knowledge to their descendants or anyone who wanted to learn."
"You aren't wrong." Pyrrha hummed. There was over a thousand ways to get better. It was simply that receiving training and learning how to fight in a safe environment was the most socially acceptable. There were still some madmen out there who threw themselves at the grimm with nothing but their aura, their weapons, and a dream. Most died, which was to be expected. It was the ones who survived who became strong.
They fought like beasts instead of men. Everything was a lethal blow, everything was dangerous.
It was a path Jaune found himself on. The fighting style he had created himself had been devoured by his 'main' way of fighting. Shorring up on his footwork, his bladework growing more precise. But it wasn't the fighting style they had theorised together. Instead it was absorbed, Jaune throwing away what he didn't need.
'I wonder how quickly Jaune will progress if I throw other fighting styles at him. Will he assimilate them into what he uses, or will he actually train them?' Pyrrha thought. It was an interesting line of thought. Something that got her chest swelling with excitement. It wasn't anything she wanted to follow through with, she would float the idea by him, but he would choose if he wanted to train like he was or try another option.
'But that wasn't why I brought him out here, was it?' She thought. Thinking about training and ways to get better was familiar territory. Confessing to the boy she was crushing on, not so familiar.
Throwing a subtle look over at Jaune, she was glad that he gave her all the time in the world. Humming softly as his mind whirled.
Deciding to throw subtility out of the window, she mustered up her courage. Saying the three simple words that felt like they weighted a ton.
"I love you."
Her chest tightened as the words left her. Butterflies dancing in her stomach as her anxiety spiked. Feeling lightheaded as she waited for him to answer.
"I know."
A single teardrop trailed down her cheek as she breathed heavily. It hurt. It hurt even if she knew this would have been the most likely case.
"I can't return your feelings."
The words didn't make it any better, the pain was still there.
"I know."
She whispered, hating herself for how her voice trembled. She was a champion, she was strong. She had faced licensed huntsmen and came out on top multiple times. But that did nothing to prepare her for how her heart ached. How vulnerable she felt.
Sighing, Jaune conjured his greatcoat and gently wrapped it over her shoulders. The softest of smiles on his face, deep blue eyes twinkling with hurt.
Looking back out at Beacon they stood in comfortable silence. Pyrrha was sure that many girls would find it awkward staying by his side after he had turned her down. But Pyrrha knew that there was no safer place to where she could wrestle with her emotions in peace.
"I don't remember the sound my mother's voice." Jaune whispered softly, hurt thick in his voice. "I don't even really remember how she looks, if she had a sharp chin or soft features. I only know that her eyes are blue, and always so filled with love."
In a blink deep silvery scars lined his face. His ear was gone, strong silvery spots clung around his neck as he scratched it. Silver scars worse than anything she had ever seen before littered his body. She had gotten a glimpse earlier, but now, so much closer she could almost hear the screams of agony trapped within them. Drowned under a symphony of mad screams and beastly roars.
"I have forgotten the sound of Dawn's laughter; I don't remember the colour of Bloom's eyes. I know for a fact that Mari had emerald eyes, but I can never remember their colour in my memories. I got free lessons in dancing at the culture hall since I chaperoned so many of my sisters there. But I don't remember any of my teachers names. I taught Jade how to dance, yet I remember nothing of it. Lily wasn't always goth, but it is the only way I remember her. Saphire used to drag me out to play, yet I don't remember what we did. Saphron always consoled me when I and dad got into another row… but I can't remember being the best man on her wedding." Jaune whispered softly. Tears twinkling in her eyes.
"Maybe, if I had had another Semblance. Then I would have loved to go out with you. You are amazing, so kind, passionate, and determined. Not to mention beautiful. I might have been a bit self-conscious, but I would have loved to date you." Jaune smiled at her. A soft smile. A broken smile, wobbling slightly. "But I don't want to wake up a day having forgotten how I love you."
Pyrrha felt her heart ache, Jaune sounded so lost, so hurt, so vulnerable. The side of him that he always hid shining trough as gentle moonlight fell on him.
Furiously blinking away the tears that welled in her eyes she threw her arms around him, blatantly ignoring the drops of water that landed in her hair. Just as Jaune ignored the tears that landed on his chest. In a while she would go back to being Pyrrha Nikos, four-time champion and best combatant in their year, maybe even multiple. And in a while Jaune would go back to being 'fearless leader', the prodigy who was racing upwards in the class's combat ranking, Violet's master and Team JNPR's team leader who always had something up his sleeve. And a man tortured by a horrible dream.
But for now they were just teenagers. A girl who had her heart broken, and a boy with too much on his shoulders.
Drying her tears on his greatcoat's sleeves, Pyrrha quickly fixed her appearance. Not wanting others to see how she had cried.
"Let's go and face the music?" Jaune asked with a strained smile. Having changed into a three-piece suit. The dress wherever his things where in that dream of his.
"Let's do this." She muttered, brining a smile to her lips, even if it was fragile.
"Well damn." Jaune muttered before they got back into the ballroom, gesturing at the rose petals strewn about on the way back. "That's not good."
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Note: I wish you all a happy easter.
Note: Vicar Laurence light, your name is dog.
Note: I don't like ending on cliffhangers, especially two in a row. But this one is mostly for the 'mini-arc' that is the dance to transition into the next part. The only way a secret of two can last forever is if one is dead.