[RWBY] White Knight Errant

[AndrewJTalon]

Some kind of fox grimm?

I would call the rats either Skaven or Hamelin's.

Click to shrink...

Yup! Hold on, I put together Info Cards:

The Vermin (Or Ratatosk in older literature) is a species of Grimm that has taken the form of a very large rodent, similar to the Muridae family of mammals. Ranging from 15 to 25 centimeters in height, and up to a meter in length, these Grimm seem to fulfill the role of a scavenger in Grimm ecosystems, consuming smaller scraps and remains left behind by larger predators. Unusual for Grimm, they are omnivorous and can devour virtually anything. While small and weak, easily dispatched even without the use of Dust or Aura, they possess three features that can make them very dangerous.

One, they possess a poison bite. This can hamper Aura regeneration in Hunters and also acts as a damaging venom to the human body as a whole. One or two bites on adult humans will have little effect, but multiple bites will begin to affect the victim's ability to channel Aura and move, making them weaker and weaker until they are overcome.

Two, the Vermin's nature as a scavenger means they come into contact with numerous pathogens. Through some method of Grimm biology, these pathogens are mutated and become far more virulent. The Fall of Mavro, the great city of the Ancient Vacuoans, to the Grimm was attributed to the various plagues brought about by Vermin infestations that weakened the city's defenses. Their small size means they can get through multiple defenses meant to stop larger Grimm.

Three, they reproduce rapidly and in very large numbers.

Modern hygiene, medicine and pest control efforts have done much to reduce the threat the Vermin Grimm pose to civilization, but the constant evolution of pathogens and the Grimm themselves means that it is foolhardy to underestimate them-Especially if they appear in large numbers.

The Reynard is another canid-like species of Grimm, but this one appears to be modeled on the Vulpini tribe of canids, better known as foxes. Much less robustly built than their Beowulf cousins (at about half the size and weight, on average), the Reynards have traded brute strength for speed and intelligence. Unlike real foxes, the Reynards operate in small packs, though lone individuals and duos have also been observed in the wild.

Their ability to coordinate and communicate is rare among Grimm, and the Reynard vocal abilities are very sophisticated-Researchers have argued that they have a rudimentary language, and they can imitate sounds made by humans. They will ambush prey and strike from multiple angles, using sophisticated tactics to wear down their prey. They will send in lone 'scouts' to attract attention, and lure humans into traps by using a member of the pack as bait or imitating human speech to feign being an ally or someone in trouble. In addition to their strong bites, they have excellent night vision, a fantastic sense of smell, and razor sharp bone spikes they can use to slash their prey.

Tests on captive individuals confirm their surprising intelligence. They can learn to open doors, to solve simple puzzles, and distinguish between different humans based on sound, size, threat poential, and smell. These Grimm can be found all over Remnant, and strangely enough, have an aversion to attacking humans unless directly threatened or are attracted by powerful negative emotions. They plan and coordinate to preserve themselves. As a result, older specimens of Reynards can be especially dangerous to the unwary.

(A/N: Basically, one day in this universe Salem asked, 'What if I made Jurassic Park velociraptors but as kitsune to appeal to the weeaboo furry base?' And this is what she came up with.)

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Weiss: "You bake cake?"

Jaune: "Again, seven sisters, mom's a famous doctor and sucks at cooking. Most of us had to learn how to cook to survive. Here, try some."

Weiss: eats it "..."

Jaune: "Sorry if it's a little too squishy, that recipe can be complicated-"

Weiss: "Jaune... I want to hire you as my cake butler."

Jaune: "... Pardon?"

Weiss: "You. Make cakes for me. I pay you. You bring me cakes. I pay you. FOREVER."

Jaune: "Uhhhhh... No."

Weiss: "I'll pay any price-"

Jaune: "NO."

Weiss: "I'll offer my body-!"

Jaune: "STILL NO!"

Weiss: "PLEASE JAUNE! This... This is the best cake I've ever tasted! It transcends any regular cake! I... Wait... YOU! You must be using your... Your Semblance! Or Dust! This cake can't be this good! You're trying to get me to love you so you can take my money and titles!"

Jaune: bonks her "Cut that out!"

Weiss: "OW!"

Jaune: "Gods, why am I the sanest one around here? Weiss, it's JUST CAKE."

Weiss: "You don't understand, Jaune! This cake is... is a revelation! ALL CAKE BEFORE IT WAS A SHADOW BEFORE THIS CAKE PERFECTION! I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT!"

Jaune: bonks her "No. Stop being crazy. No more cake for you."

Weiss: "PLEASE! I'LL HAVE YOUR BABIES! No, no, WAIT! That's what you WANT FROM ME, YOU FIEND!"

Jaune: sighs, turns and leaves with the cake

Weiss: "That was... Close... Too close..." sobs "Oh Klein, my beloved cake butler... I'm so sorry! I've betrayed you! HIS CAKE IS TOO GOOOOOD!" sobs "I'VE FALLEN FOR HIM! JAUNE AND HIS DIABOLICAL CAKE SCHEMES HAVE CAPTURED MY HEART!"

Ruby: "..." Looks over at Yang and Blake "Uhhh...?"

Yang: "Let's just ignore her. Geez... All this over cake, when she doesn't even have any herself!"

Weiss: "I KNOW! JAUNE TOOK IT ALL WITH HIM!"

Blake: sighs "I'm going to go read. Let me know when she's stopped being crazy."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune was on his Scroll with his team and Team RWBY in their common room.

Yang: "Come on, Jaune, you can't have forgotten all your social media passwords!"

Jaune: "I was three months without my Scroll fighting for my life, that didn't seem as important! Okay... And... There we go."

Ruby: "Hurry up! I wanna friend you on Dustbook!"

Jaune: "I'm in and... The fuck?!"

Ruby: "What? What is it?"

Jaune: "I've got... A million hate posts and comments? 'Stay away from her you bastard'? 'Shifty blonde dickhead'? What's going on-Pyrrha. I know that smile."

Pyrrha: "Um, this smile?"

Jaune: "Yes, the 'I'm terribly uncomfortable and embarrassed smile.' Like Aqua when her booze is found at home. What did you do?"

Pyrrha: "N-Nothing! Nothing! I just had a talk with my manager, and he wanted some pictures of my team for promotional purposes-You did sign the waivers, after all-"

Ren: "We're getting paid, right?"

Pyrrha: "Absolutely! Just give me your financial info, you'll get reimbursed!"

Nora: "YAY! Finally, our lives as traumatized orphans is paying off!"

Ren: "Indeed."

Pyrrha: "And of course they wanted to know about you, Jaune, so I gave a brief-Very brief and complimentary-interview via Scope, and uh..."

Yang: deadpan, holds up her scroll and plays a video "You mean this one?"

Lisa Lavender is in one window in her office, and Pyrrha is in another window in an empty room at Beacon.

Lisa: "So Pyrrha, who's the leader of your team? Many of your fans are upset you aren't leading it."

Pyrrha: "I'm glad for it. Jaune is... He's really something. A cunning, clever, tactical mind. We fight together so well, we have such good synergy! He's so brutal and savage and yet calculating! Like a barbarian king who fought his way up, ready to challenge the world and uh..." Blush "We get along very, very well!"

Lisa: "Sounds like you two are very close, hmmm?"

Pyrrha: "Well... I mean... We're keeping it professional... You know..."

Lisa: "I don't~."

Pyrrha: "No comment!"

The video ended. Pyrrha blushed hard, as Ruby, Yang, and even Weiss glared death at her.

Pyrrha: "I was being honest!"

Weiss: "That's the last thing you should be in an interview!"

Jaune: groans

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Five to one odds it's a gaddamn false flag operation. No way THE White Fail have such a well trained operative that can shoot the fucking scope of a sniper rifle from so far away yet COINSIDENTALLY get got like a bitch in such an obvious spot.. No way they have such an actually well trained operative PERIOD, considering their usual MO is human wave terror tactics.

Also who and why are those supa kewl OCs? Or are they canon somewhere?

Click to shrink...

http://[URL]https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WebAnimation/SLVR

[/URL]

http://[URL]https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClCk8oSJJ7MKRDRjkd4nDFA

[/URL]

In order: Simin Megister, Lycan Arcadia, Vella Moisia, and Ragora Cinarum.

In this universe, they're teacher-aides and essentially teaching assistants at Beacon. They are all fourth-year students, seniors, in their final year at Beacon who work as teachers to graduate. They will probably do this teaching assistant job part-time even after graduation. They are highly regarded as the finest team of young hunters in Vale.

They are not in on Ozpin's Group or Salem, but do some missions for Ozpin in service of countering Salem.

They are very close to Glynda Goodwitch, who is pushing them as a replacement, in a sense, of Summer, Taiyang, Qrow and Raven's team, STRQ ("Stark").

 

[AndrewJTalon]

I've also been listening to a lot of music to help me write out several scenes.

I listened to this for Isabel and Qrow talking and Isabel slowly figuring out the truth about the Grimm:


View: p2sVhlEhAaw
%20
For%20their%20little%20moment%20when%20they%20arrive%20at%20Rotofield:
%20
%5BURL%20unfurl=%22true%22%20media=%22youtube:LpH0A5MWZtQ%22%5DLpH0A5MWZtQ
%20
I%20listened%20to%20this%20as%20I%20wrote%20the%20initial%20discovery%20of,%20and%20fight%20with%20the%20Spider%20Grimm:
%20
%5BURL%20unfurl=%22true%22%20media=%22youtube5dLu9ScRM0%22%5DP5dLu9ScRM0
%20
And%20this%20for%20the%20final%20part%20of%20the%20battle:
%20
%5BURL%20unfurl=%22true%22%20media=%22youtube:ElHLG1BN3q0%22%5DElHLG1BN3q0
%20
And%20after%20they%20win:
%20
%5BURL%20unfurl=%22true%22%20media=%22youtube:LpH0A5MWZtQ%22%5DLpH0A5MWZtQ
%20
If%20you%27re%20interested,%20I%20can%20provide%20more%20playlists%20of%20music%20I%20use%20for%20inspiration%20as%20I%20continue.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

In essence, Healing Dust takes the Aura from one person, filters it, and allows for it to be transferred into another person without the other person's Aura rejecting it. It is akin to Jaune's Aura Amp Semblance, but far less powerful. However, it can be used by anyone with an unlocked Aura and good Aura Manipulation. Of course, the more Aura you pour into a person, the less you have, and the percentage of Aura that actually gets into the other person is fairly low as the process is pretty inefficient. The best healers like Isabel Arc can transfer over half the Aura they pour into the Dust into the person they are healing, most others only see a 15-25 percent Aura transfer rate.

Healing Dust, like any other kind of Dust, is used up after usage and has to be "reloaded". It doesn't burn though instantly like combat Dust, of course, but it still gets used up through usage-The more intense the usage, the faster it's used up. It's also not a naturally occurring Dust, it has to be manufactured.

All of that said, Healing Dust has saved tens of thousands of lives across Remnant and is a hot commodity for manufacture and trade. Isabel Arc helped develop it thanks to using her Semblance to understand how Aura interacts with the human body, and how foreign Aura interacts with it. This breakthrough, which had help from several other Dust specialists and doctors, has made Healing Dust a critical resource for humanity in general, not just against the Grimm.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

In case you're wondering how hot Isabel Arc can be?

Yeah. She's THAT hot.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

And here is Nick Arc:

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune: "Wait wait wait... Blake?! We met-That was you?!"

Blake: "Yes! As I recall, our parents had a lot of contact!"

Jaune: "Woah... That's kind of cool... Wonder why they stopped talking to each other?"

Flashback to outside the Belladonna's home in Menagerie. Nick and Isabel are frantically searching through a bowl of keys as they try to get to their Bullhead.

Nick: "Come on, come on, which one was it...?!"

Isabel: "I can't believe that a key party was... That!"

Ghira emerges with Kali and Willow Schnee clinging to his sides.

Ghira: "Hey! Don't go! You're gonna miss all the sex!"

Kali and Willow giggle.

Jacques emerges holding up a key as he glares.

Jacques: "Why does my key open a janitor's closet?"

Willow: "You take the key you get, dear~!"

Isabel: "HURRY NICK!"

Nick: "TO HELL WITH IT!" Smashes the window of their Bullhead, throws his wife inside "GO BABY GO!"

Isabel hotwires the Bullhead and they fly off as Nick clings to the outside

In the present...

Blake: shrugs "I don't know. The political situation, perhaps?"

Jaune: "Yeah, that makes sense..."

- - -

Shamelessly stolen from a Simpsons episode. That's why it's non-canon.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Blake: "Ugh! This is absolutely humiliating and degrading! I-I'm being exploited!"

Goldie: "Yes... You... You have a point there, lassie?"

Blake: "What is this supposed to teach me aside from a human cynically using racist tropes to make money?!"

Goldie: "Humility and a different perspective. But if you're not up fer it... YO! KID!"

Jaune: "Yes?"

Goldie: "Get in the maid outfit and put on these cat ears!"

Jaune: "Right boss!"

Blake: "Wait what?!"

Later...

Jaune: "I'll be right with you Master, nyah~!"

Blake: "That... This is so offensive..."

Nora: "Are you sure you're not just upset that he's more popular than you?"

Blake: "I AM NOT!"

She totally is.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Tried my hand at making Iridescent in AI. This is the best I've gotten for her so far: The anime styles are hit or miss. But I'll keep working on it.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Before the start of the semester break...

Pyrrha: "Nora? I have a favor to ask of you."

Nora: "Sure, Pyrrha!"

Pyrrha: "Please... Will you and Ren look after Jaune?"

Nora: "Of course! We're gonna camp together and be hobos!"

Pyrrha: "Oh good... And you're going to keep him away from any whores?!"

Nora: "Sure thing! He wants to save money so we'll keep him away from hookers!"

Pyrrha: "I... No, I mean away from other girls? Like you do with Ren?"

Nora: "... So, you want me to break the knees of any girls who try to romance Jaune-Jaune?"

Pyrrha: "Yes."

Jaune: "No, no she's not going to." He bonks Pyrrha on the head "No. Bad."

Pyrrha: "Ow! So... You mean you won't cheat on me~?"

Jaune: "We're not together!"

Pyrrha: "Oh Jaune, that hurts, but I will win your heart~!"

Jaune: sighs "Maybe. But no knee breaking, Nora!"

Nora: "Okey dokey!"

Jaune leaves.

Pyrrha: "... Can you get me nude photos of Jaune?"

Nora: "I dunno... I usually just take photos of Ren for myself." Holds up her Scroll "See?"

Pyrrha: "Oh... My... I like the lighting?"

Nora: "He never seems to notice the mirrors!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Cinder walked through the halls of Beacon, in her Haven school uniform. She locked onto one of many people of interest Roman and Iridescent had made her aware of: Jaune Arc. Studying alone in the library.

Cinder: The only son of the Arc family. Mother is Isabel Arc, the famous doctor who invented Healing Dust. Hmm... He doesn't seem like a threat, but the White Fang underestimated him. Perhaps it would be useful to pump him for information...

She sits down across from him with a warm, sensual smile and mischief in her eyes.

Cinder: "Why hello. I'm Cinder Fall. What's your name?"

Jaune: "Hm? Oh, Jaune Arc. What's up?"

Cinder: "Well... I'm a transfer from Haven, and I got turned around! I was hoping you could show me where the south dorms are?" She played with her hair

Jaune: "Sure..."

Cinder: Yes, this will give me the opportunity to-

Jaune holds out his Scroll.

Jaune: "There's a map app you can download. It'll take you right there."

Cinder: Is... Is he serious?!

Cinder: "Ah... That would be nice, but I struggle with technical matters. Could you please get up and guide me there yourself?"

Jaune: back to his book "Not interested."

Cinder: "Wha... How are you not interested in me?!"

Jaune slowly looks up from his book and looks her up and down.

Jaune: "... Eh. 7 out of 10."

Cinder: "I-EXCUSE YOU?! I am a TWELVE!"

Jaune: "Look sweetheart, do you think I can't recognize a honey trap when I see one? Half my middle and high school experience was fending off gold diggers! Now, if you had approached me openly, maybe we could have talked and made a connection, but no. You leaped right to playing around. Sorry, if you're going to hide your intentions, I'm not interested."

Cinder: "But-You can't be uninterested in me! Look at me!"

Jaune: "I did. Still not interested, and the way you're reacting proves my point. Have a nice day."

Cinder gets up and storms out, seething angrily. Some little nobody rejected her like that?! Thought she was some mere gold digging thot?!

SHE'D SHOW HIM!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jolly Roger

Length: 210 meters
Beam: 140 meters
Draft: 78 meters
Displacement: 56,000 tons
Crew: 480
Armament:
-Six 16" Dust Cannons in Two Turrets
-Eight 5" Dust Cannons in Four Turrets
-Four Atlasian Point Defense Dust Autocannons
-Multiple machine guns and small arms
Defenses:
-8" Ablative Armor
-12" Dust Forged Steel Armor
-MistralTron Electronic Jamming System
Powerplant:
-Eight Howe and Pushton Dust Reactors
-Four Valean Electric Turbothrusters
-Dust-Powered Quantum Levitation System
Performance:
-Top Speed: 140 miles per hour
-Range: 15,000 miles

The Jolly Roger is the first, last, and only Montana-class air battleship that was built for the Valean Air Navy. It was under construction during a time when the Great War Treaty was being reconsidered given the Faunus Revolution. It was based on a design from the Great War. It had fairly open architecture to allow it to be easily upgraded, and was focused on a big gun, all-or-nothing armor approach. Her protection was maximized around her engines, command and control, powerplant, and main gun turrets. An extensive fabrication system, based upon Atlasian technology, was put into the vessel to make it as self sufficient as possible. Up to 90 percent of its spare parts could be manufactured by the vessel using local materials.

With the end of the Faunus Revolution, the Montana Air Battleship Project was not immediately canceled but was put under review, as the first vessel was nearly completed. With the expansion of the Great War Treaty to have Atlas take over all military operations for the Four Kingdoms, the project was ultimately canceled and the lone example was to be scrapped without even being given a name. However, an enterprising young air pirate decided to save the ship from her fate.

In a daring raid, Captain James "Jim" Silverhand stole the vessel and named her the Jolly Roger. She has formed the core of his ever growing pirate fleet, her fabrication facilities allowing for him to maintain not only the very large and powerful battleship, but also numerous other vessels (though Jolly Roger herself is the only real warship among them). Over the years, Jolly Roger has been upgraded with more advanced tech and weaponry, including a MistralTron Electronic Jamming System that is military grade and allows the vessel to go undetected by radar despite its large size.

Despite her sustainability in terms of maintenance, Jolly Roger is a considerable Dust hog and so Silverhand's fleet has focused upon raiding Dust shipments to keep her going. Silverhand has also assisted other pirate groups, rogue nations and factions to keep his beloved "Lady" in operation, working as mercenaries and even doing legitimate security work. Said Silverhand, "When I saw her lying there in her dock, about to be scrapped and picked clean without ever feeling the wind underneath her wings, I knew I had to liberate her. Because a ship is freedom, and seeing one in bondage is the most horrific thing imaginable."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Yang: "Jaune! You got booze?"

Jaune: "You know it."

Yang: "You gonna share?"

Jaune: "Well, it's less depressing than being drunk alone."

Yang: laughs "Yeah. How do you always find Weiss's shoes to throw up in?"

Jaune: "No idea. None at all."

Yang: "Riiiight... So, know any cocktails?"

Jaune: "What do you want?"

Yang: "Strawberry Sunrise!"

Jaune: "Oh geez. You like the girliest drink on the menu, huh?"

Yang: blush "So what if I do?! Who doesn't want alcohol to taste good?"

Jaune: "It's just very cute. You want it with the little umbrella, too?"

Yang: "I'm gonna punch you!"

Jaune: "All right, all right, hang on..." He mixes it up with supplies in the fridge "And, voila. One Strawberry Sunrise."

He pushes it over to Yang. She drinks it.

Yang: "... Wow... This is amazing!"

Jaune: "Yeah. Aqua, my big sis, worked as a bartender for a while and taught me all sorts of cocktails! And I worked in a few bars coming here."

Yang: sips more "Just... Wow... How do you do it?!"

Jaune: "Well, mine aren't as good as Aqua's. Her Water control Semblance means she can make them perfect every time."

Yang: "Every time...?"

Jaune: "Yeah."

Yang: He cooks. He cleans. He's a badass leader and swordsman. He has the best family ever. He's handsome. He can dance-What the fuck am I waiting for?! I should jump him right now! Retire and have a bushel of his kids! Yes... Yes... Just pounce him and mind break him like in Blake's smut books!

Jaune: "Honestly Yang? I'm just glad to talk with you. I mean, Pyrrha is great, and so is Ruby. Nora and Ren are like family. Weiss is... Weiss, and Blake's pretty cool. But you? I connect best with you. We just... Click. I don't have to worry about anything with you."

Yang: "..." smiles, sighs "Yeah. Same. I mean, you have your moments when you're super intense... But those are pretty hot. And balanced out with how much of a dork you can be."

Jaune: "Hey! I resemble that! But... Thanks for being my friend, Yang."

Yang: "Same, Jaune." For now.

Jaune: "In some ways, you're like my sis-"

Yang: still smiling "Finish that sentence and I'll break your arm."

Jaune: "... Oh... Ohhhh... Uh... You're... Someone's sister?"

Yang: "I sure am! Hahaha!"

Jaune: "Hahaha!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Weiss: "Arc, I want to make things absolutely clear, all right?"

Jaune: "Sure?"

Weiss: "I'm not attracted to you at all. In any shape or form."

Jaune: "Ah. Okay."

Jaune turns to go.

Weiss gets in front of Jaune.

Weiss: "Absolutely clear, I do not lust for your body! You-You're just a scoundrel and a ruffian and I don't care for you at all!"

Jaune: "... Sure thing."

He again turns to walk away... And Weiss gets in front of him.

Weiss: "I mean, I absolutely wouldn't want to marry you! Or-Or do all sorts of nasty, sinful, disgusting things! I wouldn't want your rough hands on my sleek, nubile body! Or-Or you to defile me in many, many depraved and filthy ways!"

Jaune: "... Uh huh."

Weiss: blush "N-Not that I think about those things with you! Not at all! I-I have never once fantasized about you taking me roughly in a manly way, and-and leaving me a wreck!"

Jaune: sighs "Weiss? I do not want to have sex with you either. Okay?"

Weiss: "Wait, why not?! I-I mean, I mean-GOOD!"

Jaune: "Okay!"

He turns away again.

Weiss: "... Are you absolutely sure-?"

Jaune: "YES! Now can I please go, or do you want to deny your attraction to me some more?"

Weiss: "I-I am not denying anything! You're the one who is obviously madly in love with me and after my body!"

Jaune: bright smile "Nope!"

Weiss: "How-HOW COULD YOU NOT BE-?!"

Jaune: "I'm not."

Weiss: "... You don't lust after me even a little?"

Jaune: "Not when you're being like this."

Weiss: "So... How should I act so you'll be attracted to me? J-Just so I know what not to do!"

Jaune: sighs "Can you please go back to being sane and mean?"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Isabel groaned as her Scroll went off. Honestly, they hadn't had signal for days and now it goes off in the middle of the night?

She got out of the bunk, leaving Qrow to snuggle with a pillow.

... It saved heat and it made them both sleep better. They also may have had sex for stress relief from time to time. It was no big deal!

She found her Scroll and opened it. She blinked at the caller ID and answered it.

"Lady Belladonna?"

Kali tittered.

"Oh Isabel, come now! We're friends! We should use eachother's names!"

"Well, it would make things easier," Isabel mused. "What's up?"

"We found Blake!"

Isabel's keen mind locked back into messages from the former White Fang leaders, about the loss of their daughter. She smiled warmly, in genuine joy.

"I'm so glad-Is she all right?"

"Yes! Yes, she's doing wonderfully!" Kali gushed. "She's at Beacon Academy, training to be a Huntress! And away from White Fang."

"That's wonderful news!" Isabel grinned. Kali nodded.

"Yes... She tells me your son Jaune is also at the Academy?"

"Yes. He didn't get in, but he's being kept busy while he recovers from his ordeal," Isabel said with a nod.

"His ordeal?"

"He ran away from home and survived on his own in the wilds of Vale for six months," Isabel said, "But Qrow found him and left him with Ozpin. He's doing much better, but it still took a toll on him."

Kali blinked, then winced in sympathy.

"Oh! I just assumed-Well, what matters is that he's all right. I'm glad." She beamed. "She had nothing but good things to say about Jaune, as it turns out!"

"Oh?" Isabel asked, arching an eyebrow with a smile. It seemed that Jaune took after Nick more than she suspected.

"Yes, my dear little Blake has always been so antisocial, but Jaune and her other friends have really helped her open up!" Kali said cheerfully. She gave Isabel a conspiratorial wink. "Which is why I'm reaching out to you. I want to set them up."

Isabel blinked.

"Kali, I don't do arranged marriages-"

"I'm not saying that we go that far," Kali said quickly, "But we know eachother, and if they like eachother... Why not encourage them a bit, mm? He'd certainly be an improvement over Adam Taurus."

Isabel made a face.

"Wait, she was... Involved... With that psycho?!"

"Regrettably, yes," Kali said with a nod, "But surely she must be over it if she's pursuing a nice, stable, kind boy like Jaune! He doesn't have a dark past or deep seated trauma, right?"

Somewhere in Vale, Jaune Arc sneezed and had no idea why.

"Well... I mean... He might, after what he's been through," Isabel managed. Her poor boy.

"That's okay!" Kali said brightly, shifting gears immediately, "It adds spice to the relationship!"

Isabel rolled her eyes. Typical Kali. No wonder Blake had ended up as a terrorist.

"I'm not opposed to them dating," Isabel sighed, "I just don't think we should meddle too much. That's what made Jaune run off in the first place! Me meddling!"

"But think of the grandkitties!" Kali said with a bright grin.

Isabel imagined cute blonde Faunus grandchildren with their adorable little ears and tails... And blushed.

"... Well..."

Kali grinned triumphantly.

"Gotcha."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Isabel is now talking with Winter and Glynda over their Scrolls.

Isabel: "And the newest version of S-Type Healing Dust should be ready for deployment soon."

Winter: "Incredible work, Doctor!"

Isabel: "Oh, at this point I have very little to do with it anymore. The researchers are doing most of it. It was astonishing how much free time I had but never took advantage of!"

Glynda: "Must be nice."

Isabel: "You do have some assistants, if I recall correctly?"

Glynda: "True, but it never seems like enough."

Isabel: "Heh, I suppose not. So, Glynda... How is my son doing?"

Glynda: "He's doing fine. He's very social with the student body. We're keeping him busy, don't worry about that."

Winter: "Your son?"

Isabel: "His name is Jaune."

Winter: "Ah! My sister is familiar with him!"

Isabel: "Really?"

Winter: "She thinks he's an unrefined lout, though she did buy him new clothing."

Isabel: giggles "Oh my. One of those, hm?"

Winter: "I thought so, but she's taken with another boy right now... Seems a pity, given what I've seen of him."

Isabel: "You know, he is an exceptional cook. And very well read. And a decent singer." smirks "Have you considered getting a house husband?"

Winter: blush "Ah?"

Isabel: "Well, if he can't be a Huntsman, I know he'd be wonderful support for a Huntress like you. In all aspects of life."

Winter: "Eh?!"

Isabel: "Well... You don't think I had eight children for no reason, do you?" smirk

Winter: bright red "Ah?!"

Glynda: "Isabel, please. No matchmaking."

Isabel: "What? Everyone needs a hobby."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Venturing out into Vale was a risk, true. Adam was essentially the most wanted Faunus in Remnant. But he still felt the need to go out from time to time, if only to feel the sunshine on his face and the wind in his hair.

He went to a Faunus-run cafe in Old Vale. The owner smelled of dog and bear faunus, yet also of human. Mores the pity. Yet he could restrain himself from killing the race traitor for a few moments...

"Welcome to the Just Right Cafe and Bakey, Nyah~!"

A vision of loveliness greeted him. A short haired blonde cat Faunus, with bright blue eyes and a happy smile. She wore a beautiful maid outfit: Subservient, and yet, unbroken and unbowed. Such tenacity in the face of humanity's hatred!

"How can I help you?" The vision asked. Her tone was... Rougher, but her entire countenance was so charming.

"I would like food, please," Adam said quietly. The catgirl beamed.

"Don't worry, master! I know things seem rough... But a good hot meal can make everything seem better!"

Adam sat down at a booth. The angel in a maid outfit left, and brought him coffee and pastries. He bit into one... And he held a hand up to his eyes. He nearly wept. It tasted... Like home.

"Are you all right, sir?"

"I... Yes... Thanks to you," he said.

She smiled. She even smelled like Blake... Yet the warmth in her smile was so much stronger.

No, Adam thought, I can't pull her into my war. My reward... My reward will be her smile when I rule over humans and make them our slaves!

Until then... I will simply appreciate her warmth.

- - -

Jaune sighed as he walked back into the kitchen. Nora giggled.

"Wow! You really walk well in heels! Like you've done it before!"

"I have," Jaune groaned. He glared at Goldie. "Seriously Miss Goldie?! Why do I have to crossdress?! In Blake's outfit to boot! I'm dying here!"

Goldie laughed.

"Well, Kitty Princess is out, and you're better in heels than Nora! Cuter, too!"

Jaune groaned and rubbed his eyes. He knew he'd have to fix his makeup but he didn't care.

"I'm not doing this again."

"Come on!" Goldie growled. "We're bringing in so many customers with a blond, happy catgirl maid!"

"Yeah, but it also brings in all the creeps," Jaune shuddered. He peeked out at the redhead bull Faunus in sunglasses and a hat, eating the complimentary pastries like they were manna from the gods. "Especially that guy. He's such a weirdo!"

"He's a weirdo who tips well," Goldie stated, "So until he stops tipping well, get out there and serve!"

Jaune sighed.

- - -

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Ironwood: "I think my forces should augment Vale's police. We should take over, honestly. Provide far better security than they could, at least for the duration of the Festival-"

Rufus: "Absolutely not."

Ozpin braces himself. Sure, Rufus Winchester was a loud blowhard. He was also angriest when he talked cold and calm. Which meant right now? He was furious.

Ozpin: "Rufus, they are up against very formidable foes with deadly resources. You worked with the Vale Police Force on many occasions-"

Rufus: "As a Hunter and a lawyer. Not a soldier. There's a reason you separate the military and the police. One fights enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people."

Ironwood: "It works fine in Atlas-"

Rufus: "And it seems the general needs a lesson in geography, because this is not Atlas. We don't fall in line, we don't turn our society into a police state, and we don't turn our people into criminals by default."

Ironwood: "And because of that, you have a rampant criminal loose in your kingdom, causing chaos, plotting Gods know what-"

Rufus: "Still better than the alternative."

Ironwood: "I'm here to protect the innocent-!"

Rufus: "By invitation. We will not allow you to turn our kingdom into a prison complex."

Ironwood: "You're in the middle of a crisis! I can restore order! You know that there are times when government power has to be used! Has to be wielded like a club! You raised your own military-!"

Rufus: "Yes, I did. I used dirty tricks to get it passed, and I'm profiting from it indirectly. I don't dispute that. The difference is I respected the process and obeyed the law. I accepted the consequences. And I kept the VDF to its constitutional limits."

Ironwood: "And if that's not sufficient? Your ideals are well and good when you don't have innocents being butchered in the streets-!"

Rufus: "We're not at that point yet, and if we all do our damn jobs, then we will hopefully avoid that outcome! And if it does happen? Then yes, General, your forces will be unleashed. But not without a damn good reason, a damn good reason."

Ironwood: "You think I would take over Vale? You think I would use this opportunity for personal power?"

Rufus: "I don't know what you would do, General. That's the problem. When someone has a gun to your head, you don't know what they're going to do. How far they're going to go."

Ironwood: "If I really wanted to, I could level Vale-!"

Rufus: "And that's supposed to put us at ease?"

Ironwood: "The fact I haven't should prove everything-!"

Rufus: "You haven't because it doesn't benefit anyone. But having us all at your mercy? Well... The calculus changes for any man, no matter how well intentioned!"

The other members of Ozpin's cabal have long since given up trying to interrupt and just watch.

Ozpin: "Did you bring any popcorn?"

Robert Loxley: "Blinken?"

Blinken: "Of course sir." hands it out

Silverhand: "Your aide is very good!"

Robert Loxley: "Of course, he's the perfect batman."

Blinken: wiggles his bat ears with a smile "Thank you, Master Robert!"

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune: "So Mom... How did you and Dad meet?"

Isabel: sigh "Well..."

Twenty Years Ago...

Isabel: Super Serious "I have to become a Huntress, to get money to pay for medical school, to support my family... Nothing else matters... Nothing else-"

Nick: "WOOHOOOOO!" Jumps in dramatically, posing "THE HERO HAS ARRIVED!"

Isabel: "... What?"

Nick: "This is the place heroes are born! And I shall become one, fair maiden!" Grins, his teeth shining in the sunlight

Isabel: "... Are you stupid, or just crazy?"

Nick: "I assure you! I'm not crazy!" Another dramatic pose

Isabel: "... Good for you." Thank the Gods I won't have to see this idiot ever again...

Later... During the Initiation...

Isabel: Lands "All right... Now we just have to get to the relics... But before that, I have to find my partner-"

Nick: "YAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Isabel: "Oh no... NOT HIM!"

Nick slams into a tree and falls down in front of her. He gets up, woozily, brushes off his armor, and turns around with a bright grin.

Nick: "WOO! Meant to do it! So, you're my partner, huh?"

Isabel is keeping her eyes shut tightly.

Nick: "Uh... Hey, you okay?"

Isabel: "..." If I ignore him he'll go away... Just go away...!

Nick: "Hey... Is something wrong with you?" He pokes her in the nose

Isabel: "HEY! DON'T TOUCH ME, IDIOT!" Punch!

Nick: "OWWW! MY NOSE! What's your problem?!"

Isabel: "My problem is that I'm not going to be paired up with some complete imbecile like you! So don't you dare-!"

Nick draws his sword, and swings it. Isabel yelped and ducked down. She looked behind herself... And sees a Grimm fall apart in two pieces.

Isabel: Oh geez... I was so distracted by this idiot I didn't even notice...! And in one blow? Maybe he's not so useless and idiotic...

Nick: "Haa... Haa... You really need to pay more attention, huh? Who's the idiot now?"

Isabel: scowls... Punches him

Nick: "OW! HEY! I SAVED YOUR LIFE, DAMNIT!"

Isabel: sighs "...Thank you."

Nick: "You're welcome. So...?"

Isabel: sighs harder "If you slow me down in any way, I will murder you."

Nick: "How's that different from how you were before?"

Isabel: "JUST SHUT UP AND LET'S GET GOING!"

Nick: "EEP! OKAY OKAY OKAY!"

In the present...

Isabel: giggles "In hindsight? It was kind of romantic..."

Jaune: "Uh... Sure Mom..." Geez parents are so weird...

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Because a government of three elected officials is... Not a government. Seriously, it's just not. That's a triumvirate dictatorship at best, nothing can get done. There is a reason governments do tend to get big, you need to work out a way to ensure proper representation of your citizens, if you don't there are a lot of things you can't get done and you might get rebellions.

So! Basic proposal for the Valean government, at least, is three branches. Mostly.

The Assembly, or Low Council, is made up of representatives directly elected, proportional to the population of the smaller kingdoms and provinces that make up Vale. They would represent the interests of the people most directly. Rufus Winchester in White Knight Errant would be the Speaker of the Assembly, the highest ranking member of that assembly.

The Senate, or High Council, would be made up of representatives chosen by the governments of the Kingdoms and Provinces themselves. They basically function as Ambassadors of the Kingdoms to the main government, akin to how the US Senate was before the 17th Amendment was passed. In the Roman Republic the Senate was the province of the aristocrats, representing all the landowners. In this case, most High Councillors would be of aristocratic bent with long family lines, but not always.

The Executive Council, or Consuls, would be the elected leaders of the Kingdom in general. There would be a Chairman/Chairwoman, essentially a Prime Minister, who would be chosen by vote by both the High and Low Councils, to lead the Kingdom. There would also be other positions voted on by the Councils as well as those chosen by the Chair. One of these positions would be Warden of Vale: Essentially the military commander and the person who manages the Hunters. In this case, this would be Ozpin, who is voted into this position regularly.

There is a judicial branch as well that keeps the other two in line.

I mean it wouldn't be much good for fight scenes and so on but it is good for worldbuilding purposes and could present some storytelling possibilities. Plus, it makes more sense than voting for, what, three executives? What? No wonder Salem beat these idiots so easily.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

When Merlot Joined Salem.

Merlot: "My Queen..." bows "It is an honor to work with you on the Instrumentality of mankind."

Salem: "The what?"

Merlot: "Well, isn't your plan to merge mankind with Grimmkind to create a perfect utopia where Death is defeated and we reach our ultimate potential as lifeforms? In total defiance of the cruel gods who created and then abandoned us?"

Salem: "... Yes. Yes. That is totally my plan! Only a genius of your caliber could have discovered it!"

Merlot: beams "I already have a design for a superior Grimm, based upon paleontological studies of creatures that inhabited Beacon millions of years ago!"

Salem: "Millions of years ago?"

Merlot: "Yes! BEHOLD! The ultimate predators!" He shows off a hologram of feathered raptors "The Velociraptor! Well technically they're Utahraptors, they were mistakenly named that thanks to some movie-ANYWAY. These were pack hunters with superior night vision, smell, and incredible intellect! With a few modifications to their wrists, they could manipulate tools with their claws! They could sprint to near cheetah speed and their deadly foot claws are razor sharp! In short! Packs of these as Grimm could let you dominate the planet!"

Salem: "Ooooh... I love them! Especially the teeth. And I already have ideas for the bone masks!"

Merlot: "Wonderful!"

Tyrian: mutters "Suck up..."

Salem: "They're a bit short ranged though, aren't they?"

Merlot: "I had another thought to fix that. Watts?"

Watts: annoyed "What?"

Merlot: "Do you want to put laser cannons on the Grimm-Raptors when they're done?"

Watts: "..." childlike glee "DO I!"

Merlot: "Can we, Queen Salem? Can we?"

Salem: "Oh... How can I say no to those faces?"

Merlot and Watts: high five "YEAH! EVIL SCIENCE!"