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No Victory in Strength (Minecraft Jaune) - Chapter 7
🕑 Added 2024-10-19 20:29:34 +0000 UTCNext Minecraft Jauen chapter. Sorry for the delay, real life stuff. On the bright side, I also managed to get some words in for my 'Huntresses are Bhaalbuddy Elves' idea I suggested all those months ago. Yang, Weiss, and Blake (and Huntresses in general) have negative rizz while Ruby is the only sane one who argues that maybe Huntresses should care about more than getting laid. The three proceed to call her a simp and a white knight. Lancaster story too.
Also got another futa Weiss comm that's a crossover with Cyberpunk 2077 where Weiss fucks Rebecca stupid. We'll see where that goes.
Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this chapter. More plot setup.
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Ozpin had made countless friends over his long existence. Some of them he mourned even up to now while others had faded from memory. It wasn't due to any fault on their part. As many would tell you, drifting apart was a sadly all too common occurrence in life. Many friendships made in Huntsman academies didn't withstand the test of time. Competition, tragedies, or even just the passing of time led to the fraying of bonds. Ten or twenty years down the line, friendships promised to be lifelong slipped from one's mind. It didn't happen all the time, of course, but it occurred more than people wanted to admit.
Ozpin couldn't be faulted for not remembering all of his friends. He'd lived countless lives, some cut short while others (rarely) ended with him surrounded on his deathbed by people who knew that it was all a farce. And yet they continued the ritual regardless, perhaps out of a sense of proprietary. With so many decades - centuries - it was hard to blame him for not remembering all the ones he'd forged a bond with. The bonds were real, but they weren't eternal. Nothing truly was.
...
So with that in mind, please believe him when he said that he would NEVER be able to forget James Ironwood. The migraines he could would continue to stifle him unto eternity.
Ozpin sipped his mug of hot chocolate as one of his closest friends (in this life, at least) paced in front of his desk like a disapproved schoolmarm. It was a tactic he'd used himself time and again, though he found some ironic humor in being on the other end. Not that he felt ashamed, of course. James was a dear friend, one he trusted despite their numerous disagreements, but he didn't much care if the man had the entirety of Atlas' army under his command. He remembered when he was still a brash teenager with dreams of making a difference.
Of course, he was also a man whose Semblance literally weaponized his stubbornness. He knew that Semblances were unexplainable. They could be boons or burdens with no rhyme or reason as to why, and yet some had it worse off than others. A Semblance that made you expel a noxious stink was nothing compared to constant bad luck or one that drove you into single-minded, near-suicidal stubbornness.
Off to the side, Glynda watched the two of them with a pinched expression. James had been uncharacteristically quiet since Ozpin had arrived. Probably trying to make him squirm with the wait. Well, it wouldn't work. Ozpin had once kept one of his old allies in the hot seat for a month. Oh, poor Sebastian was practically a broken man by the time Ozpin finally spoke. Perhaps it was cruel of him, but Sebastian had broken his trust and deserved fitting retribution.
It took him another lifetime before he could taste hot chocolate again without feeling dirty.
"So..." James started, voice in that disapproving rumble that made many an Atlesian soldier wet their trousers, "When were you planning to tell me about our new...ally."
"In due time." Another sip.
"And when would that be?" James pursed his lips, arms crossed behind his back so stiffly that he could've sworn he heard a creak, "Before or after every other kingdom on Remnant found out first?"
"Before, James." Ozpin sighed and set his mug down, "I told you after I 'hired' Mr. Arc that we needed to talk. You were busy." Not that he blamed him for that, of course. James was a busy man. His two council seats may have given him influence and power, but it was not a 'do nothing' job, "Talking about the details over a message hardly seemed proper."
"And exposing our new 'ally' for everyone to gawk at is a good idea?"
"I couldn't exactly hide him. People would question how I managed to get the cafeteria, docks, and highway repaired within a few days." He ignored Glynda's cutting remark about how that was only because he refused to show Team RWBY the meaning of consequences. Details, details, "If I hid him and he was found out - and make no mistake, he would have been discovered - the other Councilors would band together to remove me from my seat. I don't have the luxury of two seats and the soft power of the army. The Huntsmen respect me, but they don't have the loyalty your soldiers do to you."
"One wonders whose fault that is," Ozpin said nothing. He knew all too well James' feelings on keeping the Huntsmen and Army separated.
"There's no use hiding him regardless. She already knows he exists."
James' eyes narrowed, brows furrowing in worry, "Has she sent any of her agents after him?"
"Mr. Arc has been attacked by various Grimm types since establishing his kingdom." He saw James frown at the word. Kingdom. He could already see the gears turning in James' head, "Kingdoms attacking settlements are not a rare occurrence, but from what Mr. Arc has told me - and he has no reason to lie - this can only be the work of Salem. She's sending hordes after him, and if not for Mr. Arc's powerful constructs, I'm certain she would've taken his life already."
"What about her non-Grimm agents?"
"So far there has been nothing unusual, at least according to him. Though, that doesn't tell us much. We don't know Salem's agents...except for Callows." The madman did nothing to hide. No, he was brazen in his attacks, treating his infamy as a source of devotion, "I've suggested that Mr. Arc take precautions and he's taken it under consideration. And...personally, I believe Salem's agents will have a difficult time if assassination is their goal." The young man hadn't shown him all of his tricks, but he showed him enough. Once more he wondered if Jaune Arc truly had a Semblance or if it went far deeper than that.
"Hm..." He started pacing again, "He knows about Salem then?"
"He knows enough." Not about her immortality...though perhaps he might soon. It was a secret he'd told no one in his years of existence, and yet Jaune Arc's abilities had given him something he hadn't felt in centuries: hope.
"And the council?"
"What you'd expect." Ozpin sighed, letting the years show on his face for a brief moment, "Entitled and expectant. I told them that Mr. Arc is helping me as a personal favor and that I hold no true leverage or sway over him, and yet they believe they can convince him. They're all too used to being able to get their way." He was sure they would try to offer money and connections, completely ignoring his warnings that those mattered little to someone in Jaune's position. It was like offering water to a man with his own lake.
"Hm..." James said again. Ozpin silently refilled his mug. Despite judging the councilors for their short-sightedness, he could already tell that James was planning the same thing. Oh, but it would be different when he did it. He would do it for the greater good (though he was sure Atlas would be the first beneficiary). As much as Ozpin wished to judge him, he'd also attempted to make an alliance with the young man under false pretenses, so he had no room to be high and mighty.
Power had a habit of making fools of them all.
"I wish to talk with this young man."
And there it was.
"Do you believe that you'll have better luck than the Valean council?" Ozpin raised a brow.
"Of course, I will." He nodded, face knotted in distaste as if being compared to them was physically sickening, "I'm not doing it for the sake of petty corruption. We're all allied against Salem and wish to stop her plans."
"On that, we're agreed, but that doesn't mean that Mr. Arc will be amenable to every demand." He steepled his fingers together, "I'll tell you what I told the council, James. Mr. Arc is receiving almost nothing in exchange for his help. No money, no connections, and no favors. I offered these things to him and he refused. Do you know why? Because he doesn't need or want these things. That is what I wish for you to understand. Jaune Arc is a man who wants for nothing and has everything. He's holding all the cards. The only thing he accepted was being trained by Ms. Nikos, and I believe he only agreed to that offer due to his admiration for Huntsmen."
"You make him sound like some sort of golem. He's Human, Ozpin."
"Sometimes, I doubt that." He leaned back on his seat, "I won't stop you from making your case, of course, but you do need to temper your expectations."
"I can be convincing." James smiled grimly, "A stronger Atlas is a better chance against that witch." There it was. James, for all his brilliance, was a man who saw Salem as a nail and Atlas as the hammer. He couldn't blame him for it, however. He had no idea of the truth of her immortality. From his perspective, a big enough gun should be able to kill her, "I've read the reports from Ms. Soleil. These Knights are...intriguing. Better than even the Atlesian Paladins, much as it shames me to say."
"If you're expecting him to share, you'll be disappointed." Ozpin hummed, "Mr. Arc is...quite protective of his belongings. I'm sure he'll loan them to you, but that's about all I'd expect."
"Like I said, I can be persuasive." He raised his left hand and checked his watch, "I have to return for now, Atlas' own council is...deliberating about Mr. Arc, but I'll be back in three days. Make sure to have Mr. Arc here by then, would you?"
"But of course." Ozpin's smile was razor-thin.
James turned and left without another word. Ozpin released a soft breath while Glynda hummed, "You know that he won't be satisfied till he has Mr. Arc's full loyalty. I expect James thinks he'll be able to convince Mr. Arc to put his gifts primarily for the benefit of Atlas."
"I do not doubt that. I can only hope that he takes rejection well."
"Hm." Glynda hummed again, "James won't be taking him. Not over my cold, dead body."
...
"Is there something you wish to tell me, Glynda?"
"Only that he created an automaton that helped do the paperwork. Both mine and the ones you should be doing." Ozpin looked away and whistled innocently, "I triple-checked everything and found that it was perfect. It can't do everything perfectly, of course, but for the tedious busywork? It's flawless. For the first time in years, I've gotten a full eight hours of sleep." Her smile was chilling, "So yes, Mr. Arc will not be leaving here. And if James insists, I shall...have words with him."
"Don't you think you're exaggerating a tad?"
Glynda stared at him with chilling, emotionless eyes, "I've only known Mr. Arc for three days, but if anything happened to him, I would kill everyone in Beacon and then myself. Is that clear?"
...
"I see." He downed his hot chocolate in one gulp. Power...it truly was the nectar that made madmen of them all.
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Coco walked through the school with a perpetual raised brow. Not literally - that was a faux-pas she wouldn't be able to live down - but close enough. Her usual cool, collected demeanor was a bit more brittle than usual as she looked around. She knew this Arc guy was a miracle worker. She'd seen the cafeteria and the videos about him repairing the docks and highway that got trashed by some psychos (she had no idea why Beacon cared about that stuff, but whatever).
Still, it was one thing to see that and another to watch the 15-foot-tall knights wandering around the place. Her eyes looked the looming figures up and down and she whistled faintly. The things looked impressive. A lot of old armor was ornate, sure, but they had an impracticality to them that meant actually using the things in a fight was pointless. They were more for posing than fighting. Huntsmen being able to dress however the hell they wanted and look good while killing Grimm was a testament to how good they were. There was a reason that the Atlesian military wore those drab white outfits. It took skill to kick ass looking that good.
The knights felt different. They looked like something you'd see out of a painting, all obsidian armor and blue cloth, but her instincts told her these things were dangerous. Even with Gianduja at her side, she wasn't completely confident that she'd come out unscathed. She'd still still win, of course, but it wouldn't be flawless.
Finding the man of the hour was surprisingly hard. His handiwork was everywhere. She could barely walk five steps without seeing something else he changed around the school. Gilded walls, patrolling knights, stained glass windows (that were bulletproof, judging by some of the comments she heard). And those were just the least insane bits. She didn't even want to think about the statues, the new turrets, and the freaking airship advertising the upcoming Vytal tournament.
That and Professor Goodwitch smiling. The woman was hot beyond belief, but that was terrifying.
None of the Professors said a peep about the changes. Whoever this Arc guy was, the Headmaster let him do whatever the hell he wanted, and he definitely took advantage of that. And judging by how...decorated everything was, Arc wasn't shy about sharing the wealth.
She remembered Ruby's nervous confession about infinite ammo and she smirked. Coco liked to think she was a generous person. Or at least, not a greedy one. She'd been raised well-off, but she never thought she was better than everyone else because of it. Okay, so maybe she had a bit of an ego problem, but that was because she was at the top of her year. It had nothing to do with being a spoiled rich kid like Schnee or Winchester.
It wasn't like she was expecting everything for nothing. She had money and connections that she was damn sure Arc would've been interested in. The Adels were New Money, which got them some looks from the other uptight assholes, but their accomplishments spoke for themselves. They were worth a hell of a lot more than people who coasted on their great great grandpa's whatever. Mom and Dad even encouraged her and her brothers to make their own mark on the world. Keep the streak going.
And she knew that having infinite ammo could help make that mark. Sure, anyone with a bottomless magazine would have an easier go of it, but she and Bun-Bun were the ones better off. Their weapons and Semblances were practically built with unlimited ammunition in mind. Not to knock Ruby, of course, but that rifle and her Semblance emphasized picking her shots instead of trying to win by volume of fire. With infinite ammo, she could take down an entire horde without a sweat and Bun-Bun could kick the ass of anyone at Beacon with both hands tied behind her back.
Finding Arc wasn't hard. She just had to follow the sounds of construction. Coco made her way to the center of the courtyard and stopped, arms crossed and whistling low at the sight of a new statue at the center. Not another one of Ruby. No, this one was a knight with its sword stabbed into the raised platform. The entire thing was made out of silver and gold that seemed to glow in the sunlight, its blue cape fluttering in the wind. He half-expected Roman Torchwick to swoop in out of nowhere and try to steal it.
Arc was at the base of the platform putting the finishing touches. Someone putting their emblem smack dab at the center might've been seen as gaudy for some, but Coco respected the hustle. When you rebuild the academy to make it even fancier than an Atlas villa, you deserved to have an ego.
Time to lay on the charm.
"Hey." She crossed her arms and gave the blonde a lopsided smirk, leaning against the raised stone platform. People were ignoring him for now, but he didn't expect that to last. Eventually, people would get curious enough, and talking to him wouldn't seem as intimidating. She had to get to him early, "Nice statue."
"Thanks!" He looked back at her with a boyish grin. It was charming, in that 'nice country boy' kind of way, but Coco wasn't interested. At least not that way, "The headmaster said I could tweak the courtyard a bit." Coco raised a brow. This was what he called 'a bit'? She'd love to see the guy when he was going all out, "I asked the professors and they agreed to it too. If the students don't like it, I can just move it somewhere."
"I don't think anyone's gonna complain." She laughed under her breath, "I thought you'd make another statue of Ruby."
"Well, I did ask her, but she said the one in the cafeteria was enough already." He shrugged. Coco raised both brows. Wow, this guy must've had it bad for her. Poor Weiss. She'd seen the Schnee malding whenever she saw Ruby's statue. Probably a sore blow for someone with her ego to not get a statue over her teammate, "Eh, doesn't matter. Name's Jaune, by the way. You're...?"
"Adel. Coco Adel." She offered him a hand, which he took. Her eyes scanned his for any trace of recognition and found none. Huh, surprising. The Adels were pretty (in)famous even outside the city. Their fashion line catered to a wide variety of people from the upper elites of Atlas to the rugged survivalists outside the walls. It made sense. Some brands only cared about having the biggest price tag whereas their family understood that variety was the spice of life. And lasagna.
"Nice to meet you." He pulled his hand back and looked back up at the statue, "Hm...what do you think? Too lowkey?"
"Not the word I'd use." Coco chuckled, "This looks pretty fancy already."
"Really? I didn't put in any diamonds." She blinked. He said that...way too casually. Then again, why was she surprised? She was working up to ask him to give her and Bun-Bun infinite ammo, "I wanted to make functional too. You know, so it can act as a defense system if they really needed it?"
"I think we'll be fine." Who would be dumb enough to attack Beacon, of all places? "So hey, while you're here, I wanna bend your ear."
"Hm? Need something?" He didn't even look surprised or annoyed. Good.
"Yeah." She uncrossed her arms and stopped leaning against the wall. May as well shoot her shot, right? "So...I talked to Ruby. She talked you up. Lot of good things. She was practically bouncing with that upgrade you gave her."
"Oh, that was nice of her." He laughed and rubbed the back of his, the very picture of a well-meaning country boy, "I'm glad she enjoyed it, but triple-shot is only a little complicated to put into a weapon. Really, I was lucky that Crescent Rose was so well-built. The better made a weapon is, the easier it is to put in enchantments. Doesn't matter if it's a bow or a sniper rifle. Shoddy builds will just reject any upgrades put into it." Well, that wouldn't be a problem for her and Bun-Bun. Gianduja and Anesidora were top quality.
"Speaking of upgrades." Coco rolled her shoulders. She had to sell this just right, "I was wondering...are you open to requests?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean for certain other people who are interested in expanding their arsenal." She looked at him over the rim of her shades, lips quirked in a cocky smile.
"Those 'certain people' being yourself?" Jaune asked, smiling back lightly. Another good sign.
"Well, me and a friend. Velvet. You'd love her." She unfurled Gianduja, easily carrying it with one hand despite its size. Jaune's eyes widened ever so slightly, "Gianduja here is a real ammo hog, Lots of bullets downrange, but it's not cheap." Beacon gave her a stipend of bullets from the armory, but she wouldn't have that once she graduated. Huntsmen came with a lot of perks - fame, money, lucrative contracts - but that meant they also had to be self-sufficient. Some Huntsmen thought otherwise - thinking they deserved to be reimbursed - but they were a vocal minority. Still, at the rate she was going, she'd need to be careful not to break even after doing contracts.
Hopefully, Arc could change that.
"Woah. A minigun. Never seen a Huntsman with that before." He put a hand on his chin and bent over, poring over the side of Anesidora's casing, "Yeah, I can see why ammo would be an issue. Miniguns are mounted weapons for a reason. It's not really practical even for Huntsmen to use them as a primary weapon." Yeah, that was what her big brother said. His experience? Playing Call of Valor, "What about your friend's weapon?"
"Anesidora. It's a camera." To his credit, Arc didn't look at all surprised by that, "Long story short, her camera stores Hard-Light Dust that she can use to make copies of weapons. Normally that wouldn't be that impressive - most Huntsmen train for a single weapon with a backup just in case - but Bun-Bun's Semblance allows her to copy the moves of anyone as long as she has a copy of their weapon. She's a one-man army." Coco grinned proudly, "Problem is that Hard-Light Dust is expensive. Poor girl has to keep every pinch of it she can."
"Yeah, I can see the problem." He shook his head sympathetically.
"Knew you would." Coco hummed, "She's not the only one whose Semblance buffs up her weapon. Mine makes Dust stronger. You ever wanna see a Nevermore get split in half, you should see me in action." She didn't see the point of being humble. If you had it, own it, "So yeah, we really need help. We'd be way more effective Huntresses if we didn't have to constantly worry about running dry or gouging ourselves to keep our weapons fed. Especially Velvet."
"Hm." He pulled back, hand still on his chin, "So you two are asking for a triple-shot enchantment? I guess I can do that. I've got the proper materials for it."
Coco had to resist the urge to fist bump. Damn, that was easy. She could've been satisfied with that - a lot of people would be - but Coco was never one to settle for second best. She wanted to be the best Huntress on Remnant, not the one who almost reached the top. Yeah, getting a three-for-one deal on her ammo was great, but she knew she could have more. She could already imagine firing Gianduja without stopping, tearing through an entire horde like they were nothing.
She had to shoot her shot.
"Actually..." she started slowly, smile turning to a full-on smirk, "I heard something else from Ruby. She let it slip that the three-for-one was just the first upgrade you were giving her. You know what I'm talking about, right?"
"You mean Infinity." His brows furrowed and he crossed his arms. He didn't say anything, but she felt the air around them turn just a bit colder, "That's a much harder upgrade. With triple-shot, I've already got the materials lying around, but getting the right stuff for Infinity will be a lot harder. That damn tree doesn't like to give up its stuff. If I'm unlucky, it could take me a week to get everything I need. And that's just for Ruby."
"Come on, it shouldn't be that much trouble, right?" Coco said, "If you're already going to get it for Ruby, I'm sure you can squeeze me and Bun-Bun in. We'd really appreciate it." He still looked doubtful, "And it's not like I'm asking for nothing. Not sure if you know this, but the Adels are pretty well-off. We've got money and connections, something anyone could use. You want the backing of a fashion juggernaut? All it'll take is a couple of weeks of work. Sounds like a good deal to me."
"Ah...yeah." Jaune rubbed the back of his head again, "Look. I'll tell you this right now. I don't really need money or 'connections'. Domremy's self-sufficient and money...well, if I need money I'd sell some of my old stuff that's just gathering Dust. Fashion's not really a big thing outside the walls either. Function over form and all that." He shrugged, "Sure, I make my creations fancy, but they still do what they're supposed to above all else."
"The Adel brand agrees. Our 'homesteader' catalog is both practical and fashionable," she said smoothly, "Okay, so no money, but I'm sure we can work out something else. A guy like you must want something."
"Unless you can make that tree drop more of its resin, I doubt it." He shook his head, "Look...I can see why you're doing this. Your weapons do sound like they'd really benefit from Infinity, but I only agreed to go get that for Ruby. Honestly, I don't really like the fact that you heard about it and you decided to just ask me for a couple of copies before I even got one for Ruby."
"Oh come on, it's not that big of a deal, right? I've seen the stuff you've built." She gestured to a passing knight, "Come on, it wouldn't even be a dent for you."
"Huh. Alright, so...if some stranger came up to you asking for two weeks' worth of labor after maybe five minutes of conversation, would you do it?"
"That's...different." Coco winced. When you put it like that she did sound like an entitled bitch about the whole thing, "I mean come on, you're doing it for Ruby, right?"
"I offered. She didn't ask me for it." He shook his head, "Look, I made the offer for triple-shot, and I'm starting to have my doubts about even that." Coco winced, "I'm all about being generous and helping people, but there's a difference between giving help and having someone demand it from you. Especially from a stranger." She...couldn't argue that, "Listen, I gotta go. I guess it was nice to meet you, but maybe next time, don't meet people just cause you want something from them?"
Coco flinched like she'd been hit and watched as Arc walked away. Damn, now she felt like an ass. She took off her beret and ran a hand through her hair. That went horribly. She sighed and looked up at the sky briefly before slapping both cheeks. She wouldn't give up. Arc was right, but that didn't mean she was gonna stop. There had to be something she could offer him. Something that a guy like him would want. Make the trade more equal.
There had to be something.
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Blake watched with a faint smile on her face as Jaune helped her hand out food and other necessities. Ever since he arrived in Vale, he'd been running around non-stop. Whether it was rebuilding the damages from Team RWBY's (justified) escapades or making additions to the school, Jaune did it with an almost infectious gusto. It proved that he was both a hard worker and a selfless one. She knew he wasn't getting paid for any of it. He didn't have to say it. Jaune had enough material wealth on his own that the Headmaster couldn't offer him anything that he couldn't get on his own, and yet he still chose to spend his time on a task with no reward.
It was even more proof that she'd chosen the right man to help save the Faunus.
Yesterday, she'd dropped a subtle hint to Jaune that maybe they could help in the slums. His work at Beacon was great, of course, but what about those who needed his help the most? Jaune agreed and they made plans for the next day.
The slums she'd chosen were particularly bad. The majority of the denizens were Faunus, though there was an odd smattering of Humans every now and then. It was a sad reality that even amongst the poor and destitute, some had even less than the others. The have-nots for the have-nots. Faunus were that demographic. One would think that only the elite and wealthy would have prejudice, but that was an idealistic lie. The poor were just as quick to show prejudice. Sometimes even moreso. It helped distract them from their lot in life and made them feel better about themselves. They may have been destitute, but at least they weren't those guys.
Jaune was generous, as expected. He'd handed out food and drinks, and even built a couple of greenhouses in the empty, unused lots (she didn't want to think about the property law right then and there). The fast-growing food she saw was a bit harder. Apparently, that was part of the special property of Domremy's soil that he worked on for a while, but Domremy had a pretty big stockpile that he used a portal to deliver.
The sight of the people in shock and then their subsequent relief was a balm to her soul. This was what the White Fang had been during her early years. Yes, they were violent when they needed to be, but they also cared about the Faunus as more than just a message. But down the line, she wasn't sure when, things had changed. Charity work became less and less frequent, used only for the sake of propaganda and gathering loyal recruits. Everything else was just violence and fear.
She shook her head, banishing the heavy thoughts. That wasn't the point. The point of this was to show Jaune how good it felt to help people. Help Faunus. She wasn't against helping Humans, of course, but the Faunus had to come first. They'd been waiting far too long.
"Here you go, little guy." Jaune handed a bag full of goodies to a Wolf Faunus that looked maybe nine or ten. The boy smiled and thanked him before scurrying off to join his friends. The sight made Blake's heart flutter just a bit. Even back in the early days, Adam never did something like that. Oh, he approved of it, but he always kept his distance. He was a warrior, he said. His time was better spent in the fight over doing charity.
Jaune was looking more and more appealing by the day. Anyone else would've become greedy or apathetic, only caring about how that power could benefit themselves. Jaune...cared, and that was a (sadly) rare thing to see.
She helped Jaune hand out more supplies. It was...nice, even if it wasn't exactly her plan. Yes, she did it to show him how amazing it felt to help the Faunus in need, but she also planned to appeal to him personally. A man and a woman, working together for the good of others. So many love stories started with less. Now that she knew she couldn't just appeal to him by being in his presence, she changed her plan. Something that could guarantee her success
Be in his presence while doing something. It was foolproof.
Blake wiped the nonexistent sweat from her brow and fanned her neck, giving Jaune the side-eye. He wasn't looking. Damn it. Maybe she could-
"Oh, Blake, fancy running into you here."
Her head snapped in the direction of the voice and she scowled when she saw Weiss. The heiress looked hilariously out of place in the slums, her pristine white dress and polished heels a stark contrast to her dirty, desolate surroundings. She and Jaune weren't exactly ragged, but they didn't stick out quite as much as the heiress to the SDC. It didn't help that she was being flanked by a dozen men in dark suits, all of whom were pushing carts filled with boxes.
She saw the way the people shrunk back and she glared, "Weiss, what are you doing here?"
"Just doing a little charity work." She looked past her to Jaune, "Oh, Jaune! You're here as well?"
"Huh? Oh! Hey, Weiss!" He patted another kid's head then walked towards her, "Yeah, me and Blake were helping out." He gestured to the stockpile of food and the newly built greenhouses, "What are you doing here?"
"Doing my part." She snapped her fingers and the suited men quickly began to hand out the boxes, "What you're both doing is very generous, but I had other worries. The people here can't afford to pay the bills for things such as power, and they're sorely lacking in Dust. I thought that maybe giving some away would help. Fire dust to keep them warm, Electric Dust to power their necessities. A little bit goes a long way."
"Huh. Yeah, I guess so." Jaune nodded, clearly impressed, "Good thinking, Weiss!"
"Yeah...how generous of you," Blake said through gritted teeth.
"Merely doing my part." Weiss preened. All across them, stone-faced men in suits practically shoved the Dust into the hands of the intimidated Faunus, "I wish I could do more, but sadly, it took everything I had to convince Father to give even this much. And even then, he only cared because he saw the possibility of positive publicity for him."
"That's...pretty selfish. No offense."
"Oh, I agree. Father is a very self-interested man. He doesn't do anything for the sake of generosity. There has to be a return on investment for everything." Her lips pursed bitterly before she sighed and put a hand on her cheek. Fucking drama queen, "Oh, if only I had more control of the company, I could do so much more. People wouldn't have to fight over a single Fire Dust crystal so they don't freeze in the night. The world would be a much better place."
Blake's eyes narrowed. The audacity of her.
"Yeah, that sounds really good." Jaune nodded again, arms crossed.
"I'm glad you think so." Wess practically purred. It took everything Blake had to not pounce on the other woman and wipe that smile off her face, "Actually, perhaps you could-"
"There you two are!" A squeaky voice interrupted. Blake let out a sigh of relief and subtly returned Gambol Shroud to its sheath at the sight of Ruby stomping up to them with Yang lazily following behind her. She was about to stab a bitch...what? Weiss had Aura, she could take it.
She tuned out Ruby's accusations towards her partner and sighed. This was way harder than it needed to be. Why couldn't Jaune just fall in love with her? Life would be so much simpler that way.
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Ozpin kept his face carefully neutral as he sat behind his desk. Per James' request, he'd called Mr. Arc back to his office for a chat. He stayed in the room, more to keep an eye on things than anything else. Per their agreement, Ozpin would be here only to watch and not interfere with his appeal, which he agreed to. He knew from their first meeting that the young man could more than take care of himself, but James was...headstrong. He was a man who was used to getting what he wanted by virtue of his position. And while he would've despised being compared to someone like Jacques Schnee, there were a few similarities.
The main difference was, of course, that James truly did believe he acted for the good of all rather than his own selfish desires. And while Ozpin sympathized with his desire to save as many as he could, James was also stubborn and believed his way was the only correct way.
...
Though, perhaps judging him on that was hypocritical.
James stood with his arms folded behind his back, his face a mask of stone. Across from him, Mr. Arc regarded James with a sort of cautious optimism. It didn't take a genius to figure out that James was no ordinary man, "Mr. Arc. A pleasure to meet you." James offered a hand, which Jaune took. The handshake was firm but brief, "I've heard many things about you."
"People seem to do that a lot. Hear things about me, I mean." His smile was crooked.
"You leave quite an impression given your... abilities." Powers, gifts, miracles, "And from what Oz told me, you're also aware of what we face."
"You're talking about Salem, right?" Mr. Arc asked. James nodded grimly, "Yeah...I mean, a part of me still can't believe it, you know? An immortal queen of the Grimm that wants to destroy all of us. I thought that maybe the Headmaster was just making stuff up cause I was gonna leave, but I guess I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt. No way he just came up with that stuff on the spot. Too many details."
"I felt the same when he first told me the truth." James turned his head and their eyes met, "It sounds like the plot of a dark fairy tale, but Salem is all too real."
"I'm guessing that's why you called me here."
"Indeed." James nodded stiffly, "I won't mince words, Mr. Arc. Your skills are extraordinary. Far more than anything I've seen in my short time in this world." Ozpin raised a brow. Subtle flattery wasn't usually James' style, "And I believe that with the right direction, you can achieve great things."
"Direction?" Jaune crossed his arms, expression neutral.
"Yes." To his credit, James continued on the same track, "I've seen the things you can do, the things you've done. It's both amazing and terrifying in equal measure. Do you understand the power you wield? You turned a village into a burgeoning kingdom in just six months' time. And you did so with no help from anyone else. Even the architects that created Mantle would burn in envy if they saw what you did. You did in months what would take years if not decades."
"That still doesn't tell me what you want."
"Come with me to Atlas." Ozpin barely held himself back from laughing. He knew James was brazen, but that was above and beyond even his expectations, "You have a gift, Mr. Arc, one that has to be used to its full potential. Atlas can help with that."
"I've been doing fine on my own so far."
"And you can do better in Atlas. Mr. Arc. Jaune. You know the truth about Salem. Oz believes that the Huntsmen will be enough to win this war, but I have my doubts. If we truly wish to end her plans, the only clear choice we have is to overpower her. Atlas can do that. We have the strongest army, and the most powerful naval fleet, and our technology surpasses every other kingdom. With your help, we could have the strength to defeat Salem and ensure future generations will be secured."
The room was quiet after that. Ozpin regarded his friend with a slight frown. He admired James' belief that Salem could be stopped, but that admiration was also tinged with guilt. He didn't know the truth. None of them did. Salem could not be killed. He'd tried again and again and again.
...And yet perhaps Mr. Arc gave them a chance.
Mr. Arc sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "General Ironwood, I promised the Headmaster I'd help him, and I agreed because what he was asking for was about reinforcing Vale and Beacon. What exactly are you asking for."
"To use your gifts for Atlas." Ozpin sighed. For a straightforward man, James had a bad habit of phrasing things through Atlesian pride, "Helping the army would be tantamount. Those weapons and armor, despite appearing less advanced than our own, clearly surpasses our capabilities. Much as it shames me to admit it." He grimaced, "We'll also need you to create more of those Knights for us. A platoon to start with. I've also heard from Ms. Soleil that you gifted Ms. Rose with an 'enchantment' for her weapon. Outfitting the army with that would be useful."
"Woah, woah. Hold on a second." Mr. Arc put a hand up, "Are you telling to drop everything and just move to Atlas to do all that?"
"Yes." Ozpin shook his head. He didn't know whether to respect or pity James' certainty, "You will be well-compensated for your efforts, and as both General of the army and the Headmaster of Atlas Academy, you can-"
"Okay, stop right there." For the first time since he'd met him, Mr. Arc sounded exasperated, "Let's get this out of the way. I don't need money, or 'connections', or favors. I'm willing to work for those if I need to, but you're not the first person trying to offer those things to me and I don't think you're gonna be the last." His shoulders sagged, "I don't need any of the things you're offering, General. Or if I did, I would ask for an exchange first, not the other way around."
"Is that a refusal?"
"I mean...I'll help you out since you're on the same side as the Headmaster, but I'm not, you know, doing all of that."
"I see."
There was a pregnant silence that stretched for seconds. Ozpin closed his eyes and inhaled softly. He'd warned James that the young man wouldn't be amenable to the usual offers, but he didn't listen. Neither did the council or, as he expected, anyone else who sought out Mr. Arc's abilities for their own benefit.
He assumed the meeting was over before James suddenly spoke up again, "You have a gift, Mr. Arc. One that you're obliged to use for the good of your kingdom." Mr. Arc looked confused while Ozpin groaned. Oh dear, it seemed as if James had short-circuited. Possibly literally. Money had failed and Mr. Arc cared not for his two council seats, so he defaulted to what he usually used: pride in one's Atlesian heritage.
There was just one problem...
"Uh...I'm not Atlesian?" Jaune shifted from one foot to another, "Technically, I'm not even Valean either. I was born outside the walls."
...
"It is your duty to help your kingdom."
"James, I think that's enough."Ozpin sighed and stood, "Mr. Arc has agreed to help you. Perhaps not as much as you wish he did, but he's helping regardless. That's more than what many can say." The Council would not be pleased when they were refused. James was a stubborn man, and a bit of a control freak besides, but he truly did care for the greater good. The same couldn't be said for many on the council, "I suggest we end it here lest Mr. Arc rescinds his offer."
"...Exactly what help are you willing to give?" James asked slowly.
Before Mr. Arc could respond, the door to the room slid open and Winter Schnee stepped inside. Her posture was stiff and her brows were furrowed as she regarded them all, "Sir. I just received a troubling report."
"Go ahead, Specialist."
"Should we discuss the details elsewhere?" Her eyes lingered on Jaune.
"No. Provided it doesn't concern crucial military secrets."
"No, it's a recent incident." She sighed and handed him her scroll. There's been a sudden surge of Grimm in the western territories. Many of our convoys were attacked. No survivors." Ozpin's brow furrowed while James frowned. A plot from Salem or just sheer bad luck? "The cargo contained food and Dust meant for the allied settlements."
Settlements in Atlas were a different beast compared to the other kingdoms. While some were independent, that was more an exception than the rule. Solitas' harsh weather meant that farming was much more difficult. Huge swathes of Atlas were reserved just for farmland. Atlas sent food to outlying settlements in exchange for anything from services to luxury products. Some saw it as too authoritarian, but just as many would argue it was sensible.
"We'll need to dip into the food reserves." James pursed his lips. They would also need to get replacement Dust, which meant talking with Jacques Schnee. Ozpin could tell that the idea didn't appeal to him.
Unexpectedly, it was Jaune who spoke next, "You guys need food and Dust?"
"Yes." James nodded grimly, "I can dip into the reserves, but the rest of the Council won't be happy, and I'm sure Jacques will find some way to gouge us for the Dust we need."
"Hm...not sure if I can help with the Dust just yet, but if it's food and other stuff you need, I can help." James blinked, as did Winter, "You guys said it was for places outside Atlas, right? We can't let them starve. I can help."
"And...what would you want in exchange?" James asked.
"I mean, I'll do it even without that, but since you're offering..." Jaune put a hand on his chin before he suddenly smiled. He pointed to the the window behind his desk which showed a view of the Emerald Forest. And past that, far into the distance to be barely a blip, were the remains of Mt. Glenn. A constant reminder of Vale's failure to expand past their walls, "If you have some ships to spare, I'd appreciate it. Something to help carry goods and people."
"We do, but what exactly are you..."
"You're planning to retake Mt. Glenn," Ozpin said. James and Winter looked at him questioningly while Jaune grinned, "I suppose I can't fault you for your ambition, Mr. Arc." He chuckled under his breath.
"Retake Mt. Glenn." James shook his head, "Do you even have the manpower to do such a thing?"
"I've got that covered."
Back in Domremy, far beneath the castle Jaune called home, hundreds upon hundreds of Knights lay dormant, each of them waiting for the order of their master.
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Jaune's got plans, and they're gonna interfere with the canon. White Fang and Kevin won't know what hit them. Like I said, Bhaalbuddy Elves fic soon. Poor guys have to deal with no rizz Huntresses trying to hook up with them.
Questions:
1. Who do you guys wanna see interact with Jaune next and why? Commissioner has final say, of course, but I'm curious all the same. Penny? Pyrrha? Cinder? Adam? Someone else?
2. Do you guys think Jaune should've agreed to go all-in on empowering Atlas like Ironwood wanted or was he right to say no?
Comments
The Brotherhood of Steel
1. Ciel and Penny both who are interested in his abilities just from like a scientific point of view of understanding. Or have him hang out with Glynda and the other professors. 2. Made the right call fully backing a kingdom basically means picking a side something to hold off on for now.
Christopher Tucker
Loved this chapter and looking forward to more. 1. For the choices, I think it should be Penny, due to the current interaction. 2. No, for the empowering, only because if he did that, then he would have to do it for the other kingdoms. Minecraft Jaune is still Jaune, he would want to strengthen all the Kingdoms…Menagerie…the various settlements…etc
MilitiaMasker
1. Cinder 2. Yes, but I’m a militarist and the choice was his.
Thelurker12
They await their king’s orders…
justaguy123
Well this was fun. Also hold up…did you say he has HUNDREDS of those knights on standby?! Oh Lordy.
Mysterious Benefactor
1:Winter, Penny and Ciel can get in as a Atlas attache for Mt. Glenn reclamation. Covertly they are there for information gathering about Jaune. Jaune is friendly with Penny. Cordial with Ciel and somewhat cold towards to Winter. I think interaction between Penny and Jaune also have lots of potential. Adam can also can get into the story easily in this arc as White Fang should be in Mt. Glenn right now. 2:No.In Jaune's case he seems to be genuinely thinks he do not need their help. He also seems to be technically do not grasp the full extend of Salem threat. As most people also would not be due to how seemingly absurd her existence is.
