[RWBY] RWBY Shorts

[AndrewJTalon]

How It Happened – Part 2

---

Count wrote a continuation.

And this is the second chapter in a row where I managed to light every one of Whitley's nerves on fire. This is not going to be a thing every chapter.

I'll get this posted on SB in short order. But now that Dragonslayer week is over, I felt that it was right to work on something non-Dragonslayer again and was able to bang this out.

Thoughts, feedback?

Also, @AndrewJTalon, nice work on the Cinder & Pyrrha snippet.

Click to shrink...

The exposition was pretty well handled. You did misspell "Warrant Offizier". You could tighten up the dialogue a little, though you do have fairly decent voice differentiation between characters.

And thanks. I thought it might have been good if a bit cliche to enhance both Cinder and Pyrrha's characters.

 

[CountvonBarnOwl]

The exposition was pretty well handled. You did misspell "Warrant Offizier". You could tighten up the dialogue a little, though you do have fairly decent voice differentiation between characters.

And thanks. I thought it might have been good if a bit cliche to enhance both Cinder and Pyrrha's characters.

Click to shrink...

Bad idea?

I'm trying to capture the General's Edward Richthofen tone of voice and his propensity to click back into his native when I can get away with it, and the fact that Amzel is basically an archetypal Germanic mad scientist. Unfortunately, the only German I know all involves weapons, munitions, tanks, planes, premodern mercenaries, philosophers I have wildly varying relationships with. Certain classical songs and poems that I particularly like. I cannot say I know very much about the language.

So it comes off as disjointing and breaking the flow of the story? Like, it isn't readily apparent that this is just the way the character talks?

So, might I ask further how I can make Amzel sound like a giggling mad scientist?

In your estimation, what does he lack?

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Peleus needs the beetle treatment from the Mummy

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Dragonslayer week is almost upon us! So enjoy a few more prompts to get yourselves writing:

-Yang feels ugly and unfeminine after losing her arm and acts more butch. Jaune though tells her she doesn't have to reject the feminine, it's part of who she is, and he still thinks she's beautiful. This sticks with her and she sees Jaune in a new light.

-Jaune is at his lowest in the Ever After. He's been haunted not just by something pretending to be Pyrrha, RWB, Ren and Nora, but also pretending to be Yang. When he meets the real thing again... He embraces her and thinks she's the illusion, admits he loves her and he misses her so much. Explore the fallout when he learns it's the real thing.

-Post-Vytal, Yang unlocks a new level to her Semblance that turns her into a crazed, mad berserker that can't tell friend from foe. Jaune is the one who figures out how to calm her down. She's terrified of her new power but Jaune is determined to help her master it. He wants to be useful and he can take the hits, so he works with her the most.

-Yang and Jaune end up working on Bumblebee together and take her for a test ride, where Yang hopes to get her feelings across to this dense idiot!

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Bad idea?

I'm trying to capture the General's Edward Richthofen tone of voice and his propensity to click back into his native when I can get away with it, and the fact that Amzel is basically an archetypal Germanic mad scientist. Unfortunately, the only German I know all involves weapons, munitions, tanks, planes, premodern mercenaries, philosophers I have wildly varying relationships with. Certain classical songs and poems that I particularly like. I cannot say I know very much about the language.

So it comes off as disjointing and breaking the flow of the story? Like, it isn't readily apparent that this is just the way the character talks?

So, might I ask further how I can make Amzel sound like a giggling mad scientist?

In your estimation, what does he lack?

Click to shrink...

His patter needs to be more manic, slow dramatic weighty bits, quicker bits. You can use smaller words or lack of spaces and runon sentences in a few places to better convey his manic feel.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The surprise came in the form of a tall, broad-shouldered man with the same warm blond hair as Katy and the same easy, slightly crooked grin that Mia had inherited.

Mercer Sith Junior stood in the courtyard of Beacon with a travel bag over one shoulder and a small, carefully wrapped package under his arm. When Jaune stepped out of the dorm with Mia on his hip, Mercer's entire face lit up.

"There she is," he said, voice rough with emotion. "There's my favorite little niece."

Mia blinked, then her ears shot straight up. "Uncle Mercer!"

She practically launched herself out of Jaune's arms. Mercer caught her with a deep, booming laugh and spun her around once before settling her against his chest.

"Hey, troublemaker. Missed you."

Jaune smiled, tired but genuine. "Didn't know you were coming."

"Surprise visit," Mercer said simply. "Had a few days free. Figured I'd come see the little spitfire and make sure Beacon hasn't corrupted her yet."

For the rest of the day, Mercer took Mia into Vale.

They rode the tram with the windows open so she could stick her head out and feel the wind. They bought ice cream (Mercer let her get the biggest cone the shop sold). They visited a toy store where he bought her a small wooden sword and a matching shield "just like Papa's." They fed the ducks at the park, and Mercer made ridiculous duck voices until Mia was laughing so hard she nearly fell over.

Every time she laughed — that bright, unrestrained, pure sound — Mercer went quiet for a second.

It was Katy's laugh.

Almost exactly the same.

He never said anything about it out loud. He just kept making her laugh again and again, as if he could somehow bottle the sound and take it home with him.

By the time they returned to Beacon in the evening, Mia was half-asleep against his shoulder, sticky with ice cream and clutching her new wooden sword like a treasure.

---

Before he left the next morning, Mercer asked Jaune for a private word with the girls.

RWBY and Pyrrha found themselves in an empty classroom with the door closed. Mercer stood with his arms crossed, looking every bit the protective older brother.

"I'm not gonna sugarcoat this," he said. "Katy left that little girl in Jaune's hands, and by extension… in yours. You're the closest thing she has to aunts and a mother figure right now."

His eyes moved from Yang to Ruby to Weiss to Blake to Pyrrha.

"I need you to promise me you'll look after her. Really look after her. Not just when it's convenient. She's all that's left of my sister, and I won't have her growing up without people who love her the way Katy would've wanted."

One by one, they nodded.

Pyrrha's voice was soft but firm. "We will. I swear it."

Yang cracked her knuckles. "Anyone tries to hurt her, they'll answer to me."

Ruby nodded hard. "She's family."

Weiss straightened. "She will be protected. You have my word."

Mercer's gaze lingered on Blake last.

"And you," he said, voice quieter but sharper. "I've heard the stories. I know what you used to be. I'm not here to judge the past… but I am keeping an eye on you. If you ever put Mia in danger — even by accident — you and I are going to have a very long conversation. Understood?"

Blake met his eyes without flinching. "…Understood."

Mercer held her gaze a moment longer, then nodded once. "Good."

He turned back to the group.

"Take care of her. That's all I ask."

---

Later, Mercer crouched down in front of Mia one last time, adjusting the little wooden sword on her back.

"You be good for your papa, okay?"

Mia hugged him tightly around the neck. "Come back soon, Uncle Mercer!"

He closed his eyes for a second, holding her just a little tighter.

"I will, kiddo. I will."

When he finally stood and walked toward the airship, he didn't look back until he reached the boarding ramp. Then he glanced once more at the small group watching him leave — Jaune with Mia in his arms, and the five young women standing protectively around them.

Mercer allowed himself a small, quiet smile.

Katy would've liked them.

He stepped onto the airship and didn't look back again.

 

[AndrewJTalon]

Jaune: "Professor, what did you call me for?"

Ozpin: "I need you to come up with contingency plans."

Jaune: "Contingency plans?"

Ozpin: "Yes, to defeat your teammates if they go evil or get mind controlled."

Jaune: "Huh? Why?"

Ozpin: "You have a fantastic strategic mind, Jaune. I'm sure you can do it."

Jaune: "So there are people who can mind control my friends? Shouldn't we focus on stopping them?"

Ozpin; "Oh we will, Jaune, we will. But if they get control of your friends first, it may lead to their deaths if we can't stop them non-lethally."

Jaune: "Shouldn't we have a contingency for me too, then?"

Ozpin: "Oh if you're turned evil we're all fucked, Jaune. It's just a case of a sniper round or a bomb in a birthday present for you. We have to get more creative with the others."

Jaune: "... I don't know how to feel about that."

Ozpin: "Good!"

Blake actually has plans like that for everyone including herself.

Jaune: "Plans that aren't just porn."

Blake: "... Now I have to start over."

Jaune: "Seriously why did you start making these?!"

Blake: "If I ever went evil again... You'll need to put me in bondage. And probably keep me at a low level of stimulation, just on the edge and calling me a worthless Faunus slave and-!"

Jaune: "OKAY, I'm good. Don't need to hear anymore"!

 

[Blackicefox]

Wimp he should have went okay tell me more and should I start doing this now or later

 

[AndrewJTalon]

About Damn Time

The Beacon vehicle garage smelled like oil, hot metal, and the faint ozone tang of Dust. Bumblebee sat in the center of the concrete floor like a sleek black-and-yellow predator waiting to be let off the leash. Yang was already elbow-deep in the engine, golden hair tied back in a messy ponytail, a smear of grease across one cheek.

"Hand me the torque wrench," she said without looking up.

Jaune passed it over. He had been relegated to "toolbox guy and occasional extra pair of hands," which suited him fine. Watching Yang work was its own kind of education—precise, confident, completely in her element. Every so often she would glance at him like she was about to say something important, then close her mouth and go back to tightening something with more force than strictly necessary.

He was, she had decided, the densest, most frustrating, most endearing idiot on the entire continent.

"Okay," Yang announced at last, wiping her hands on a rag. "She's ready for a test run. Valley road. Low traffic, good curves. You coming?"

Jaune blinked. "Me?"

"No, the other tall blond standing there looking useful. Yes, you. Hop on."

She swung a leg over Bumblebee and kicked the engine to life. The motorcycle purred like it was happy to see her. Jaune hesitated only a second before climbing on behind her, big hands settling carefully at her waist.

Yang grinned to herself. Perfect. Nowhere for the dense idiot to run.

- - -

The valley road unspooled beneath them in long, sweeping curves. Wind whipped Yang's hair back into Jaune's face. His grip on her waist stayed polite for the first ten minutes. By the fifteenth it had grown a little firmer, a little more natural. She leaned into the turns harder than she needed to, just to feel him adjust and hold on.

"You're quiet back there," she called over the engine.

"Just… enjoying the ride," Jaune answered, voice close to her ear. "You're really good at this."

Yang's heart did a stupid little flip. Say something, Arc. Notice something. Anything.

They never got the chance.

The Beowolf pack came out of the treeline without warning—six of them, drawn by the engine noise and the two living Auras cutting through the afternoon. Yang cursed, braked hard, and killed the engine. She and Jaune were off the bike in the same motion.

"Left side!" she barked.

"On it!"

It was messy, fast, and perfect.

Yang's fists lit up with fire. Jaune's shield caught a lunging Beowolf and turned it into a perfect setup for her haymaker. They moved like they had been practicing for weeks instead of hours—her aggression, his timing, the easy way they covered each other's backs. When the last Grimm dissolved into black smoke, both of them were breathing hard, standing almost chest-to-chest in the middle of the road.

Adrenaline still sang in Yang's blood. She turned to say something cocky—

—and Jaune kissed her.

It was brief. Almost clumsy. Just a quick, firm press of his lips to hers, warm and startled and real. Then he jerked back like he'd been burned, face going scarlet from the neck up.

"I—sorry! I'm sorry. I got caught up in the moment. That was— I shouldn't have—"

Yang stared at him.

Then she grabbed the front of his hoodie with both hands, yanked him down, and kissed him back properly.

This one lasted longer. This one had intent. When she finally pulled away, she left him dazed and still very red.

"About damn time, idiot," she said, voice rough with laughter and something softer.

Jaune's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again. "…Yeah?"

"Yeah." Yang bumped her forehead lightly against his. "I've been trying to get through to you for weeks.I was starting to think I'd have to draw you a map... Or kick your ass."

A slow, disbelieving smile spread across his face. "I've been… Um... Well... I was thinking of... Working up to it. Didn't want to mess things up."

"You almost did by taking so long." She poked his chest. "But you get points for the dramatic post-Grimm timing. Very heroic. Very you."

Jaune's hands found her waist again, surer this time. "So… does this mean I get to keep riding with you?"

Yang swung back onto Bumblebee and patted the seat behind her.

"Get on, partner. We've still got a whole valley to finish. And next time you kiss me, maybe warn a girl first."

She paused, glanced over her shoulder with a grin that was pure sunlight and mischief.

"…Or don't. I kinda liked the surprise."

 

[AndrewJTalon]

The old guardhouse at the edge of Arcadia had been carefully remodeled into a cozy little farm shop, its thick stone walls now lined with shelves of preserves, smoked meats, and fresh baked goods. Tourists drifted in and out, drawn by the warm smell of woodsmoke and the hand-painted signs advertising everything from pickled vegetables to game meats. Nick and Isabel led Teams RWBY and JNPR inside, the bell above the door chiming softly. Orchid was at the shop counter, looking bored.

The teens went through the shop, peering at the items for sale.

Weiss stopped dead in front of a display case. "Fried Squirrel?!"

Nick only grinned, completely unbothered, as he offered them all some squirrel kebabs. "It's gamey, but it's great!"

Ruby stared at the skewered creatures with pure betrayal in her silver eyes. "But they're so cute!"

Yang wrinkled her nose, waving a hand in front of her face. "Ugh, the meat stinks!"

Nora, already chewing, offered a cheerful thumbs-up around a mouthful. "Om nom nom… No complaints!"

Ren took a measured bite of his own squirrel-on-a-stick, expression thoughtful. "When you live on the road… you learn to make do. Honestly, it's better seasoned than anything I was able to make."

Jaune chewed his portion with the calm of long practice. "I mean, it's not even the weirdest thing I've eaten either."

Weiss eyed him warily. "I'm almost afraid to ask, but what is the weirdest?"

Jaune's smile turned deliberately mysterious. "I'm keeping that a secret."

"Oh come on!" Ruby protested.

Yang had already wandered deeper into the shop, eyes wide as she took in the rows of glass jars. "Wow… look at all the stuff… they have… and all the pickled stuff… I didn't know you could pickle eggs… or beets… or asparagus?"

Ruby's attention snapped to a different shelf. "Oooh! Sooo many cookies!"

Jaune gently caught the back of her cloak before she could dive in. "Down, Ruby… maybe we'll get some for later."

"What's this 'Sith Farm' shelf for?" Blake asked.

"Oh, our neighbors the Siths sell a lot of their goods here!" Jaune said cheerfully, "They're our friends and have been for a thousand years!"

"A thousand years?" Blake asked in shock. Jaune nodded.

"Yeah! Cait Sith, the Faunus Thief of Albion, joined my ancestor Jeanne D'Arc and helped her defeat the Witch Queen of Argus! When she became queen of Radian, she made him a Duke!"

"A duke?" Blake snorted. "You made him a duke?! I don't believe it!"

Blake opened her mouth, clearly about to say something else, when Weiss scowled.

"Blake, so help me Breaker, if the next words out of your mouth have to do with Faunus and oppression, I'll tell Mister Arc how much you love working with the cattle dogs, and he'll make sure you're always with them."

Blake's ears flattened. "No! I was going to ask—"

A drawling voice cut across the shop.

"Well, well, well! If it ain't some Menagerian Pussy come around!"

Jaune groaned. "Mercer!"

A young farm cat Faunus man with a sharp grin, a leather jacket and a swagger walked up. He pulled Jaune into a hug. "Hey, Jaune, you keep shooting up like a weed!"

Jaune straightened, already moving into damage-control mode. "Uh, this is my friend, Mercer Sith Junior." He quickly introduced the others, though Mercer's attention remained fixed on Blake.

"And you… Menagerian Pussy… here to lecture us, I take it?"

Blake's eyes narrowed. "Wha—How did you—?!"

Mercer smirked. "You literally look like Blake Belladonna, princess of Menagerie."

"I'm not a princ—I mean—Who? What's Menagerie?!" Blake recovered quickly, ears twitching. "And there can be no princess of Menagerie because it is a republic!"

Mercer waved a dismissive hand. "Uh huh, which is why Ghira's been voted in as Chieftain for, what, almost ten years now?"

"Because he has been voted in by the populace, that's just it! And it's only been six years, not ten!"

Mercer's tone turned sharper. "Bah! I'm not lettin' some princess come here and tell Faunus we're being oppressed when your father's ruling with an iron fist!"

Jaune stepped between them, hands raised. "Hey guys! C'mon, let's all just have a nice day here at the market… please?"

Mercer paused, then huffed. "Hrm… Fine, Jaune. For you."

Blake's ears pinned flat. "You obey him even now?!"

Yang's voice rose in alarm. "Blake, no, nonono—"

"Mercer, hold back—!" Jaune started.

"DAMNIT BLAKE!"

Mercer's temper flared. "I WAS GONNA DO IT TO BE POLITE BUT IT SEEMS YOU'VE ALL THE MANNERS OF AN ALLEY CAT!"

Ren, ever dry, murmured, "Alley cats at least didn't start arguments unprompted."

"NOT HELPING, REN!" Jaune snapped.

Blake's chin lifted. "At least I removed my collar!"

Mercer's voice cracked like a whip. "THERE WAS NEVER A COLLAR T' BEGIN WITH YA DAMN PUSSY! WE WERE DUKES!"

"AND WHAT ARE YOU NOW?!"

"FARMERS AND NOT TERRORISTS!"

Isabel's voice cut through the shop like a blade of pure maternal authority.

"MERCER SITH JUNIOR! ARE YOU GIVING OUR GUEST A HARD TIME?!"

Mercer wilted on the spot. "…No, Ma'am."

Isabel folded her arms. "Good! Then you'd better apologize."

"…Sorry…"

"That's better."

Blake's lips twitched into a smug little smirk.

Jaune didn't even look at her. "You next, Blake…"

Isabel's gaze shifted. "Yes. Blake, please apologize."

Blake mumbled something unintelligible.

Isabel's tone sharpened just enough. "Blake…"

"…Sorry…"

"Good! Now, let's keep shopping, shall we?"

The tension eased as the group drifted deeper into the shop. Ruby's eyes lit up at another display. "Ooh, pheasant! Pheasant pheasant pheasant! How does it taste?"

Jaune answered without missing a beat. "Like less good chicken."

Isabel's head snapped around. "Jaune! It's not less good chicken!"

 

[John Jackson]

Blake's chin lifted. "At least I removed my collar!"

Click to shrink...

Blake internally
"I remembered to take it off this time right?"

 

[ExFelineServer3]

Yeah, that tracks!

 

[Bommel]

Jaune: "Plans that aren't just porn."

Click to shrink...

The irony is that all of Blake's porn plans that involve Jaune for others are all so effective that they're almost garanteed to succeed.

 

[ThunderBasilisk]

Well now I wanna see a Jaune who's really paranoid and he constantly makes contingency plans that sounds insane and yet he's trope savvy enough that they always work.

 

[John Jackson]

Well now I wanna see a Jaune who's really paranoid and he constantly makes contingency plans that sounds insane and yet he's trope savvy enough that they always work.

Click to shrink...

So cyclops who objected to his plans being labeled alphabetical because that implied he only had 26