#new jaune tag I don't have a name for yet

[onewomancitadel]

So recently someone informed me that the killing Penny scene is to help Jaune get used to killing so that he can kill Cinder. I am not sure if I agree with this but they followed it up by saying that Jaune needed tp learn that sometimes killing is more merciful than healing which is buld up for him killing CInder. Apparently its thematically* obvious(whatever that means) I dont know anything about analyzing stories or themes so what do you think?

Your intuition is correct and what is being proposed here is absurd, it's not thematically obvious. But I suppose they learnt the word 'thematic' recently and decided to employ it to augment their argument.

'Thematically obvious' tell me what the fucking themes are then. For fuck's sake. I use this in the presence of discussing actual themes. I actually wondered if this were a troll trying to mock me but that was a bit 4D for me.

I'm sorry, this is just out of the gate absurd with such poor reasoning (just abstractly deciding what is right not intuiting from the rest of the story?) that I'm not quite sure where to start. Let's begin with the obvious:

Jaune killing Penny is a fissure in his identity when he had got comfortable

This fissue is something he has to heal (forced into a terrible situation), not learn to embrace. This is not a grimdark story. Salem is not going to be killed because it is not right to kill her, not just because it's physically impossible. If she dies it's on her own terms. We are literally shown her true backstory in order to empathise with her. I don't know how to make that any more obvious.

Jaune's sword breaks in half when he and Cinder fight; the deed is not fully on him and is something that's hurt him and is not something that is his true narrative purpose.

That leads into point two.

2. Killing Cinder reaffirms her worldview

That the world is a place of kill or be killed... killing is not healing. Killing is just the end. It's not freedom. It's nothing. I don't think there's really a coherent theory of what 'helping' constitutes here - Jaune helping Penny was not just killing her, it was allowing her to make a choice about whom the Maiden power goes to. It was part of solving the Maiden cycle of the powers. Jaune kept the power from Cinder; she's not meant to have the others. That she doesn't have the others in the first place is still what leaves the question open of her redemption.

If Jaune were supposed to kill Cinder, why would they reject that in V5? Why would he fully awaken his Semblance in that confrontation? I'm not here having arguments about canon during Beacon era, I'm having arguments about canon during Volume 8; I hope this person in question can keep up.

3. Where have they got this absurd conclusion about Jaune's character?

How is he remotely set up for it? Why would he learn to embrace something Cinder cornered him into? Why would I want to see Cinder's villainous worldview and the consequences of her actions in such a situation reaffirmed, validated and endorsed by the narrative?

It matters who is doing and saying what.

Jaune mercy-killing Penny is placing him in a position of narrative empathy with Cinder. It should not make him more like her in the sense of actual villainy; it should make him want to challenge her and understand her. That's it. That's the point. The point of this story is not about killing Salem, if this person had watched Volume 6 as well.

Whether or not he is involved with Cinder there is absolutely no way you set up the healer to kill Cinder who is deeply and profoundly wounded. Penny is a tragic loss. It was the immediate right thing to do but it was still a loss to him. If you completely misread his character, sure. If you ignore the themes of the story, sure. If you ignore the point of Penny's death, sure. If you ignore fucking everything to the point I actually can't be bothered expanding more - sure.

Really, if they think Cinder needs to die then they don't understand anything about the Maiden powers or the point of redemption in the story or anything related to Salem so we don't have the same foundation at all. It's not thematically obvious because they don't know what themes they're talking about.

But this is a great example of someone who has a belief (Jaune is going to kill Cinder) that they've held onto for several volumes or takes to be a given conclusion and is trying to force the canon facts to their interpretation (with the endearing use of 'thematically obvious'). It's actually very funny watching fandom scrambling to fit new information into their given paradigms; this is a new one I haven't seen before, but I insulate myself from the rest of the fandom for a reason.

I've been seeing this Jaune will kill Cinder nonsense for the longest time such that I accept that asking them to actually pay attention to what's being said onscreen and is being endorsed by the narrative is a losing game. It's the first time I've seen any expressed interest in 'themes' of the story though, so they must be learning.

There are much more interesting questions beyond 'and now Jaune has to be a killer to kill Cinder, one of the most deeply wounded in the story' - say, what does it cost to heal the most deeply wounded? How do you get to her? How do you overcome a situation where you couldn't help? How do you find the real source of the wound - the one leaving blood everywhere - the one pulling you into all of this? What are the odds you're willing to overcome?

I don't know why they wouldn't go to such pains to establish someone who needs help and is the hardest to reach in the story. That's not asking for a killing (that Rhodes tried to do... and failed for a reason). That's not asking to do what Cinder thinks you're going to do anyway so she should get there first.

I don't know why the ultimate task of someone with compassion as a superpower would not be to use that superpower... as his ultimate task... on the hardest possible person.

[juanarc-thethird]

I posted 969 times in 2022

That's 969 more posts than 2021!

615 posts created (63%)

354 posts reblogged (37%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@howlingday

@darkvaga

@true-king-of-monsters

@juanarc-thethird

I tagged 737 of my posts in 2022

Only 24% of my posts had no tags

#jaune arc - 681 posts

#rwby - 637 posts

#rwby jaune arc - 623 posts

#rwby jaune - 622 posts

#jaune - 609 posts

#rwby shitpost - 297 posts

#ruby rose - 206 posts

#rwby ruby - 188 posts

#rwby ruby rose - 185 posts

#ruby - 171 posts

Longest Tag: 81 characters

#this is getting out of hand that i will not write the names of any of this ships.

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

For Science... Of course.

Jaune: *Drinking water after a long day of work*

Penny: Salutations friend Jaune! Are you busy?

Jaune: Hi Penny, I'm not busy. You need something?

Penny: Yes, I want you to help me live a certain first-hand experience.

Jaune: And that is? *Drinks water*

Penny: *smiles* Intercourse!

Jaune: *Surprised and almost drowned while drinking water* Kaff! Kaff! What did you say?!

Penny: I want you to help me experience intercourse like a real human. *She smiles*

Jaune: Ok, first of all, I don't think it's a good idea to be asking people these things. Second, I don't want to sound insensible, but do you even have a… *whispers* vagina?

Penny: I understand your concern, but don't worry. I only asked you for this after doing a very thorough investigation of your person around the academy. Many girls have talked about how efficient you are in bed.

Jaune: Wait what?

Penny: And about your second concern. I had some modifications, look! *She lifts her skirt*

Jaune: *Blushing* Oh

Moments Later:

Penny: Oh my!~ My research was correct. Friend Jaune you are incredible!~

Jaune: I'm glad you like it, but you shouldn't hold back.

Penny: What do you mean?

Jaune: Penny, I can tell you want to express yourself more.

Penny: That's not true *hic*

Jaune: You're lying. Let it out~

Penny: But... I'm not a bad girl.

Jaune: You can be a bad girl with me~

Penny: *Blushing* Ok... Jaune?

Jaune: Yes, Penny.

Penny: *Smiling* Please breed me~

Jaune: Of course~

Jaune begins to move her hips aggressively, moving Penny's entire robotic body with each thrust.

Penny: Oh fuck!~ I love your cock!~ It's so big!~

Jaune: That's it, let it all out~

See the full post

411 notes - Posted July 23, 2022

#4

Mating Season

Jaune arrives at the Belladonna's house after a long journey. He and his girlfriend agree to meet at her house. She even gave him the keys to get in. The plan was to have a vacation together in her hometown. He walks in and the first thing he does is charge his phone. The battery ran out on the way here. Meanwhile, he drinks a glass of water and after a moment the phone turns on.

Jaune: 30 missing calls? 45 texts? All form Blake?! Did something happen?!

He calls her back.

Jaune: *Worry* Please be okay, please be okay

Blake (Phone): Jaune! Thank God you call me.

Jaune: Sorry I didn't call you early, my phone died. Are you okay? Something happened?

Blake: I'm fine. Listen, my mom is going through something and she needs to be left alone.

Jaune: *Worry* What kind of thing?

Blake: She is.... She is in her mating season.

Jaune: Is that real? I never saw you go through that.

Blake: It only affects adult Faunus who do not have long-term sexual relations. And well, because we do it… a lot. It doesn't affect me that much.

Jaune: I see, is there anything I can do?

Blake: Yes, don't go to my house, it's not safe for you! If you get there, she will suck you dry. Please stay away from my house! I've already texted you the new location where we'll meet. I just arrived.

Jaune: Blake...

Blake: You... You are already in the house.

Jaune: I'm already in the house.

Blake: Has she seen you?

Jaune: No, I haven't seen anyone yet.

Blake: Well, try to get out quietly and lock the front door once you're out.

Jaune: Okay, I will.

*WHAM* A door was flung open.

Blake: What was that?

Kali: Oh hi Jaune, I didn't know you were coming to visit me. Do you want a cup of tea?

Jaune: *Nervous* It's fine, I was already leaving. Blake is waiting for me.

Kali: I don't think she'll mind if you're a couple of minutes late. Please stay, I can help you relax.~

Jaune: Thanks for the offer but-

Blake: I'm sorry Jaune, but it's too late.

Jaune: What?

Blake: I'll see you tomorrow. Do your best to survive. *Hang up*

See the full post

420 notes - Posted April 14, 2022

#3

Jaune OF

@viceasabi

Jaune just finished his classes and was walking the halls of Beacon Academy like any other day, but these past few days he has felt more and more that people are watching him. He thought it was his anxiety, that maybe it's just him being paranoid, until a group of girls stop him.

Girl 1: Hey, are you Jaune Arc?

Jaune: Yes that's me.

Girl 1: Really?! I mean, that's great.

The girls behind her just giggle

Jaune: Um, can I help you?

Girl 1: I was wondering if you ever plan on collaborating with anyone on one of your videos? Maybe we can work together?

Jaune: My videos?

Girl 1: Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't know you're trying to keep it a secret. *She approaches him and in silence* I'm talking about these videos. *shows him her scroll*

Jaune can see a lot of videos and photos of him. Some of them were in the gym, some of them when he was swimming, and some of them when he was in the locker room changing or just wearing a towel. The pictures didn't show anything sensitive like his "sword", but they left little to the imagination.

Girl 1: So, what do you say? We can take some photos and videos together for our fans. I would increase the tons of fans on your account and mine. *she leans closer to his ear* But to be honest, I hope to do something more explicit.

Jaune steps back showing his face red as a tomato.

Jaune: *nervous and confused* S-sorry, I have to go.

Girl 1: Would you even think about it?

Jaune: I..

Girl 1: If you like my friends can also join. It wouldn't bother them.

Jaune looks back and sees the girls giving him bedroom eyes and waving at him. One of them even winked at him

Jaune: I-I'm sorry. *Jaune starts running*

Girl 1: *looks back at the other girls* Was I too strong?

Back with Jaune.

Jaune runs back to his room. A lot of questions come to his mind. Who took the photos? Why are they doing this? How many people know? More and more questions were piling up in his head, but right now he wants to stay away from everyone.

Jaune finally reaches his room. He steps inside and closes the door behind him. He leaned his back against the door and slid down to sit on the floor.

Nora: *Out of nowhere* Are you okay fearless leader?

Jaune turns to the corner of the room and sees Nora still in her school uniform reading a magazine and listening to music on her pink headphones.

Jaune: Nora! *Stand up* Someone is taking photos of me and posting them on Onlyfans!

Nora: Oh! that was me!

Jaune: What?! You did this? Why?!

Nora: I need some extra money and with our schedule it is impossible to get a job. So I decided to do an Onlyfans!

See the full post

429 notes - Posted February 12, 2022

#2

WHAT ARE WE?!

Jaune and Blake embarked on a stealth mission at the White Fang base to obtain sensitive information about a terrorist attack on the Vale embassy. Unfortunately, the person they least wanted to run into, found them.

Adam: Finally come back to me, my love.

Blake: I didn't come back to you!

Adam: Nonsense, you belong to me!

Jaune: Wow dude. Not cool, slavery was abolished a long time ago. You can't own a person.

Adam: What? Oh No! I didn't mean that! She's my girl!

Jaune: Your girl? I don't know, friend. After she left you on that train car, I'd say what you guys had was over a long time ago.

Adam: Wait! You told him?!

Blake: Of course I told him. He is my boyfriend after all.

Jaune/Adam: Boyfriend?!!

Blake: Yes, he is my- Wait, what did you say?

Jaune: Well, I thought we were just friends.

Blake: We had sex before this mission.

Jaune: Really good friends.

Adam: You had sex with him?!!

Blake: SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!

Adam: *Scared*

Blake: So all those romantic dinners, walks in the park, and the little dates we had in the library were for nothing! I mean, you even met my parents!! Are you seeing someone else?!

Jaune: *Scared* No

Blake: So why aren't we boyfriend and girlfriend?!

Jaune: Do you want to?

Blake: Do YOU want to?!!

Jaune: Can we talk about this later? We are on a mission.

Blake: Oh no, we are going to talk about this right now!

Adam: Can I say something?

Blake: *Shoots him*

Adam: AUGH!!

Jaune: Oh my God! you shot him!!

Blake: Hey hey, don't focus on him, focus on me.

434 notes - Posted November 7, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Schnetflix and Chill?

Jaune hangs out in Velvet's room watching movies.

Jaune: That movie was incredible.

Velvet: Yes, I loved the ending. It was so unexpected.

Jaune: Yeah *Looks at his watch* Wow, is it so late already? Well Velvet, it's time for me to go. *Stands up*

Velvet: Wait! *Takes his hand* Would you like to see another movie?

Jaune: I don't know, it's already too late and your teammates could be here any minute. I wouldn't want to bother them.

Velvet: They are not coming tonight.

Jaune: Huh?

Velvet: They are not coming tonight. So… if you want… you… *Blushing* you can sleep here.

Jaune: I don't know.

Velvet: *Puppy eyes* Please… stay.

Jaune: *tries to look away* But....

Velvet: Please...

Jaune: Ok, fine! But we will sleep in separate beds.

Velvet: *Quietly* We'll see about that.

Jaune: I'm sorry. What did you say?

Velvet: I said, which movie would you like to watch?

Jaune: I don't know. Any recommendations?

Velvet: *Smiles seductively*

Later that same night.

Velvet: OH JAUNE!!!~ FUCK!!~

Jaune: Fuck~! Velvet, your pussy feels so good!~

Velvet: Your cock feels so fucking good too! Oh God~! I can't live without this dick!!

Jaune: Shit~! I'm at my limit!

Velvet: Are you about to cum?!

Jaune: Yes! Fuck~!

Velvet: Then give it to me baby! Fill me up!!!

Jaune: *Goes harder* God~! I'm almost there!!

Velvet: Yes! Do it! Fucking cum in me!!

See the full post

443 notes - Posted September 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[howlingday]

here's a challenge. any ship you like (except for ozpin cause it's too easy) but the story is strangers to lovers to strangers to lovers. best of luck no reincarnating characters!

Jaune ran through the palace garden, chasing his older sister Saphron as the two played tag. Their father was tasked with working security for the ruler, and the family was invited to attend the festival. His mother, pregnant with her sixth child, sat and held her snoozing youngest on her chest as the twins rolled a ball back and forth together.

At lunchtime, the family gathered in the dining hall where they met and ate with the royal family. The ruler was a massive, burly man, easily twice his father's size, and his wife was beautiful and wore golden jewelry on her wrists and around her neck. But the one who caught his eye was the princess.

She was about his age, with stunning golden eyes and a set of black cat ears atop her silky black hair. His face grew warm as he gazed at her.

"Careful, son." His father whispered. "You might spook the girl with your staring." Jaune immediately shifted his gaze to the floor, his face awash with the heat of shame. His father laughed loudly.

The families took their seats. The mothers sat next to each other, as the fathers sat on each end of the long table. Jaune was seated next to the princess. He tried his best to not look at her, his little heart drumming hard in his chest.

"Hello." The girl mumbled as the meal was served. She straightened herself, then spoke more clearly. "My name is Blake Belladonna. I am the daughter of Ghira Belladonna, the chieftain of Menagerie. What's your name?"

"Uh, Jaune." He answered. "Jaune Arc. My dad is working for your dad." She nodded, her hair bobbing with movement. Jaune felt his mouth dry seeing her hair dance.

The two remained silent until the main course was delivered to their plates, tuna fish sandwiches. Jaune hated fish. He picked at the disgusting meal when Blake spoke.

"Do you not like tuna?" She asked.

"I don't like fish." Jaune groaned.

"Can I have yours?"

"Sure." Jaune slid the sandwich to her plate. In return, she scooped more fruit to his ate. She hummed in delight at the sandwich, and Jaune knew then he was in love with the princess. Just like in his fairy tales.

--------------------------------------------------

The festival had been going for days now, and was reaching it's climax. Jaune had spent every morning eating breakfast with his sisters and his new friend, Blake. After, they would read until they grew bored by the afternoon. They would then play, often reenacting the scenes they read, until evening. At dusk, their families took then into town, where they played games, ate food, and talked with the islanders at their stalls.

Jaune was wearing a fancy, blue robe with tidal wave patterns, looking similar to a sailor from the old days he read about. On his head was white rope tied in a knot above his forehead, and on his feet he wore open-toe-and-body sandals. He sometimes had to kick sand or dirt out of his new, comfy shoes.

Blake wore a longer, black robe with a white sash around the waist. On her head, with holes cut for her ears, was an empty basket. She had been doing this sence she was able to walk, so she was used to this. As she said this, however, the basket fell onto Jaune's head. They shared a laugh.

At one stall, Jaune was shoved to the ground by an older boy. He had fiery red hair, piercing blue eyes, and two small horns atop his head. He wore a red robe with yellow flames along the bottom, and his rope and sandals were black.

Jaune brushed himself off as he stood up. "I'm sorry." He apologized. The other boy was older, stronger, and probably smarter than him, too."I shouldn't have gotten in your way."

"Yeah, you shouldn't." The older boy grabbed Jaune's collar. "This is a sacred festival. We don't need humans ruining it for the rest of us!"

"I'm sorry." Jaune mumbled as he looked down.

The boy raised his fist. "Not yet, you're not."

"Adam!" Blake snapped. "That's enough. Put him down."

Adam scoffed at her, then let go. He turned and walked away. "Don't ruin my festival, human." He disappeared into the crowd, and the two were, in a sense, left alone.

"Are you okay, Blake?" Jaune asked.

"I should be asking you!" Blake placed her hands on her hips. "Why didn't you fight back?"

"He was bigger than me." Jaune merkly answered. "I can't win against him."

"It's not about winning, Jaune." Blake lectured, dusting off Jaune's shoulders. "It's about being a hero. If you don't believe you can win, who will?"

"Did you think I could win?"

Blake didn't answer. She was quiet the rest of the evening until the main event that night. Chieftain Ghira stepped on stage, with Kali and Blake, and the festival became silent. He tapped the microphone before speaking.

"Good evening, everyone," he spoke calmly into the mic, "and once again, thank you to everyone who attended the Festival of Fishery. Our island may not be as large a Kingdom, but what we lack in agriculture, we are blessed greatly in the sea we are provided, and the brave sailors who are working, even tonight, for us, are to be thanked. It takes great courage to sacrifice something as precious as our time with our loved ones, as well as risking your life out at sea, where unpredictability isn't the only thing fishy out there." He was quiet as he waited for the laughter to die down.

Jaune let out a chuckle. He then noticed a shadow moving behind the stage. Curiosity getting the better of him, he slipped away from his mother and sisters, and made his way to the stage. Once there, he saw a hand sticking out from the curtain.

On closer look, it was Adam from before, judging by his hair and horns, and there was something dripping between his fingers. He then noticed there was something sharp poking out. Jaune followed where he was aiming, and knew Blake was in danger.

Jaune rushed on stage, past the chieftain, and pushed the princess to the stage floor. Chieftan Ghira moved towards Jaune, raising his hand to the rising anger of the crowd, while Kali kissed her daughter's head. Blake sniffled as her arm was scuffed, and her robe was dirtied.

There was an uproar quelling until Jaune stood to his feet, covered in a pink and brown slime. An eyeball fell from his hair, where a bone was sticking out. He looked to Blake, making sure she was okay. He was then lifted into the air by something grabbing his sides.

"This is the sacrifice I mean!" The chieftain roared with a laugh, before setting Jaune down and placing a hand on his shoulder. "This boy- No, this young man is a visitor from outside our island home, and yet he took a shot from an unknown assassin for my own daughter!" He then sniffed the air, and wiped his hand on his robe. "The good news is the assassin was using a chum-ball. The bad news is the boy now smells like low-tide."

"Hey, that's the best time to go clam-hunting!" Someone shouted from the crowd. "If you ask me, he's been blessed by the shoreline herself!"

The crowd laughed, and the chieftain shared in it. "You're right! So, in honor of his bravery, I dub this brave young man, Jaune Arc, Shield of Low-Tide!" The crowd cheered once more, and was escorted by his father back to his family, just in time for the fireworks to start.

The night slowed to it's end, and Jaune and his family walked home, occasionally stopping to watch the remaining fireworks fly into the night. The largest, and last display shot high into the night, outshing the stars with it's finale, exploding into a glittering ball of purple and yellow. They walked the rest of the way to the castle without turning around.

Jaune groaned as his mother rubbed his hair vigorously. She grimaced as she wrinkled her nose. She sighed, and patted the rest of his body dry. "I've done the best I can. You still smell like fish, so you'll have to sleep outside of our room." She unplugged the bathtub and walked to the door. "I'll discuss with Kali if she can spare another room for you. Until then, go ahead and get ready for bed."

"Yes, Mama." Jaune stepped up to the sink and brushed his teeth. There was a knock at the door as he spit. "One second!" He washed off his brush and hurried to the door. Blake was on the other side, smiling.

"Hi, Jaune." She greeted.

"Hi, Blake." Jaune replied. He looked at her bandaged arm. "Are you okay?"

"Mhm!" She nodded. "It hurt, but at least I don't smell like fish." Jaune groaned, marking Blake giggle. "It's okay, 'cause I like fish."

"Is there a guest room left?" Jaune asked. "Mama is asking your mom, too."

Blake shook her head. "All of our guest rooms are being used by your family." Jaune sighed at that. "But you can stay in my room."

"Really?" Jaune asked. "Even though I smell like fish?" Blake nodded, and he chuckled. "You're weird, Blake."

She quirked an eyebrow, her smile never breaking. "Good weird?"

He nodded. "Good weird."

--------------------------------------------------

"Please, just kill me." Jaune groaned as his body swayed with the roll of the ship. He belched into his mouth before swallowing the little bile he had built up. "Be my angel of mercy and just kill me."

"Pathetic." The captain sneered at the knight she captured. "To think all of Remnant fears the Knight of Atlas, and yet your capture was as easy as leaving port. Did you really think you could disguise yourself as a sailor when you're so easily seasick?"

"And airsick." He grunted out following with a belch. "And I'm not working for Atlas."

"Oh?" The captain perked her cat-like ears at this, making her earrings jingle. "Then why are you here, Dog?"

Jaune bristled at the name. Jaune's father was a hero among Faunus, known as the Wolf of Ansel. Being trained to be his successor, Jaune was ridiculed as the Dog of Vale, since his reputation was not only lackluster compared to his father, some doubted they were even related, and that Jaune assumed the name as a way to make himself look better, denying the two were even from the same town.

"I'm here," Jaune groaned out, "because you're attacking dust trade routes. Making things worse."

"For Atlas? I highly doubt Jacques Schnee ever cares what happens at sea if at least one ship makes it to port. Besides, I'm sure Atlas will survive, with or without a mercenary interfering."

"Not Atlas. Not Schnee." Jaune swallowd more spit and bile. "Mantle. Coal."

"Coal?" The captain blinked. "As in Coal and Son's Dust Emporium?"

"The owner died from a pirate raid. His son wants answers."

"I see." The captain snapped her fingers, and a sailor arrived. "Bring me saltines, Maiden's Touch, and some clean water. And tell the Quartermaster to find an island for us to drop anchor."

"Aye aye, Captain Kahn!" The sailor ran out to complete his task.

Captain Kahn crouched to eye-level with Jaune. "I hope you're as good with a blade as they say, Dog," she growled, "because I'm going to show you the full strength of Sienna Kahn, Queen of the White Fang Pirates."

--------------------------------------------------

In less than an hour, the ship moored to an island with more sand than stone. It was one cliff too much to be a sandbar, and far enough from any major islands to be missed if an enemy vessel or nosy law enforcement tried to interfere. Jaune and Sienna stepped onto the sand, where he crouched and heaved, grateful for the gift of standing on solid ground. She rolled her eyes as the exaggerated display.

"I thought you were a warrior, Dog." Sienna chided, resting an arm on her cutlass. "Or should I call you, 'Pup'?"

"My name is Jaune Arc." He corrected as he stood straight, towering over her by a head and a half. His pale skin almost blinded her.

"Is it?" Sienna replied. "I have met an Arc before, and from where I stand, you are nothing like him."

"I am nothing like my father." Jaune agreed. "But I don't need to compare myself to him to know I'm his son."

"Then draw your sword, Pup!" Sienna unsheathed her cutlass and took a combative, fencing stance with it. Her tanned skin from years of working in the sunshine glistened in the light. She was almost too beautiful to fight. But Jaune knew how dangerous the Tigress of Menagerie could be. "Face me, Warrior to Warrior!"

Jaune unsheathed Crocea Mors' blade from it's sheathe, his family's heirlooms, and held the sword with his left hand. With baited breath, the circled each other, making no movement to attack the other.

Jaune wasn't used to fighting with just his sword, but he didn't need to be stronger. He needed to be smarter. And smarter meant fighting cautiously. And fighting cautiously meant letting Sienna make the first move.

Slipping a foot back, then kicking sand forward, Sienna made the first move, thrusting through the sandscreen diversion. Finding no purchase, she cut downwards, cutting into the sand.

Jaune ducked the thrust, then rolled away, grabbing a fistful of sand before standing. He assumed a similar fencing pose with his fist behind his back.

"Trying to blind me?" Sienna asked, a knowing smile on her lips. She rushed towards him, clashing blade against blade, engaging him and never letting him break from reacting. "Only a fool engages in a battle of trickery with a pirate."

"And what kind of fool tries with the Queen of Pirates?" Jaune replied. He leapt backwards, swinging his fist forward, releasing the sand he pocketed as she closed the gap.

Hooking a leg behind Jaune's, she used her free hand to push him backwards. As he fell, he noticed her eyes were closed. When she opened them, he was on the ground, her sword to his throat. "A dead one."

Flicking his wrist, Jaune knocked her sword away and rolled to his feet. She smirked at him, chuckling as she brushed sand from her beautiful locks of black hair. His heart's thundering missed a beat at the sight of the beauty before him. With a gulp, he took a calming breath.

"Is this too much for you, Pup?" Sienna mocked. "Do you need your Atlas master's to take you for a walk?"

"I serve the people of Remnant." Jaune flared his nostrils. "Not any one Kingdom."

"And what of the people of Menagerie?" Sienna asked. "What of the overcrowded streets of the hungry, and the homeless, who take to pirating to survive? Don't they deserve justice?" She closed the gap again, going on the offensive and pressing hard into Jaune's defense. "Tell me, Pup, if you're not here for Atlas, then why come to Menagerie at all? I doubt some sob story would be enough to risk your life against a pirate." She pushed him away and stepped back. "I can see it in your eyes. You're not here for Coal and Son's at all. They went out of business ages ago, because the Schnee Dust Company took them out. So why are you here?"

Jaune shifted his sword to his right hand, wiping the sweat from his left hand. He ran along the shore, forcing Sienna to give chase. He made it to the other side of the cliff face, hiding them both from the sight of her crew. He turned and charged the Pirate Queen head on.

She grunted at his swing, the force almost pushing her into the sand. He was using his weak hand the entire time, and she didn't even notice. His fencing improved as well, as if he were holding back. A game of trickery, indeed.

Jaune batted her sword, then caught it in a spin and tossed her sword away. He closed the gap between them, his lips close to hers, and his sword and her throat even closer. Just one movement could change everything in their lives.

He stepped back, sheathing his sword and allowing her to recover hers. As she reached for it, time slowed around her.

"Princess Blake Belladonna." Sienna didn't move. "I heard she went missing. I... I'm hoping to find her."

"Oh?" Sienna picked up her sword, not facing him. "And what makes you think she's on board my ship?"

"I never said she was." Jaune answered, stepping closer. "But I did hear Sienna Kahn died twenty years ago, after the Festival of Fishery. How she died protecting the only child of Chieftain Belladonna, allowing her and her mother to escape. Chieftain Ghira Belladonna was never heard from again, and Chieftain Taurus took control of Menagerie. He waged an all-out war against Atlas, resulting in harsher penalties in the already suffering island." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Blake, it's time to come home."

"Blessed by the Shorline, indeed." She turned and hugged her oldest friend, whom she known for only a week. After they left, the two wrote to each other until the coup. It was after this that they began their transformations.

Jaune took his training with his father more seriously, learning the art of mercenary. Combat was his weakest trait, but he more than made up for it in his tactical mindset. In his off time, he would read "The Shogun's Letter," one of Blake's favorite book series.

Blake had gone from Island Princess to Cabin Girl in a single night. She was no stranger to hard work, and her mother was there for her until she died years later from a sea-faring illness. She learned the way of the sword and skull and bones from her grimy benefactors. She got the idea to disguise herself as Sienna Kahn after re-re-rereading "Of Knights & Knaves," a story where a squire pretends to be his slain master to uncover a hidden plot against the king. She even took to writing stories herself of her sneaking into a squire's bedchamber and-

"Blake? Are you okay?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah, I am." She sniffed and stepped away. "Let's go back."

"One sec." Jaune held up a hand. "I need you to hit me."

Blake blinked. "What?"

"I brought us over here so you can keep up your disguise when you came back." Jaune explained. "But we need to make it look like you won. So hit me."

"Jaune, I'm not going to hit you." Blake placed her hands on her hips. "We've seen each other for the first time in years, so I'm not going to- Aie!" Blake yelped as she felt him roughly paw her breast. She growled, her face red with embarrassment.

"Eh heh." Jaune nervously chuckled. "Uh, oops?"

--------------------------------------------------

"A toast!" Blake raised her glass high for her crew to see. "To the White Fang Pirates, and their newest crewmate, Jaune Arc, The Hound-Dog of Menagerie!" The crew howled in response, some barking for good measure as their crewmate grew green in the gills from the fading medicine. "I hope you're ready, crew, because tomorrow, we return home to Menagerie!"

"To Sienna Kahn!" One of them cheered. "The greatest Pirate Queen for the last fifty years!"

"Huh?!" Jaune balked as he was about to take more Maiden's Touch with his drink. "Fifty?!"

"Yeah, don'tcha know?" One the crewmembers said. "Sienna Kahn was near forty when she took that Belladonna job. Cap'n don't look too bad fer a GILF, does she?"

Jaune threw up over the side. He spit for good measure. Some folks were just too gross for their own good, and sailors were no exception.

"Having fun?" Blake asked, leaning against the railing. "I'm glad you're alive. When I lost my father, I didn't know what to do. I thought about finding my way to your father, but I was afraid he would turn me away for getting into politics."

"Dad wouldn't have done that." Jaune replied.

"Maybe not, but I didn't want to risk my home on anything less than a sure chance."

"Adam Taurus is dead." Jaune pointed out. "He was killed by the Ace-Ops, the best of the best in Atlas. If we go against Atlas, we'll probably lose."

"Maybe." Blake said, then smiled at Jaune. "But for some reason, I have this weird feeling about you."

Jaune quirked an eyebrow, smirking at the beautiful woman next to him. "Good weird?"

"Good weird."