[ ic contact ]

[beaconed]

"Helloooo! You've reached Jaune Arc! If I'm not answering, it means I'm probably off somewhere fighting monsters or... doing something really awesome like saving a cat, or the president's son! You know how it is, a leader's schedule can be really hectic nowadays, ha ha! Just kidding, I'm probably in school, but I'd totally do those things if I ha-- [BEEP]"



[ TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION ]

Comments

[heiroglyphs]

I just... think that it would be nice if we spent more time around each other.

Like... right now, for example.

[beaconed]

Weiss? Do you feel okay? It's me, Jaune.

[ Now he's feeling her forehead, checking for her temperature. ]

Jaune Arc.

[ Weiss threatening to hurt him coming in 3, 2, 1......... ]

[heiroglyphs]

[And taking this opportunity to lean in closer. You damn string bean, stop being so tall.]

I feel just fine. What about you?

[beaconed]

Uhhhhmm.... h-hahah...

[ s w a l l o w s ]

I-- yeah? Haaa... just, pffwaha... d-do you feel fine?

[ ALREADY ASKED THAT. ]

[heiroglyphs]

[Weiss can't help but giggle at his stammering.]

Still fine.

[Here, she'll grab the top of his breastplate and pull him down so their foreheads can touch. Because heaven forbid you make the first move.]

[beaconed]

G--ahh!!

[ He has... no idea what the next move here is, but it's definitely not the most obvious one. When their foreheads are touching, Jaune tries his best to maintain a poker face, but his heart is racing regardless of who were to do this to him. ]

Y-You... ah. I see. Yes. In some cultures, they check for temperatures by pressing ones forehead against the other person's, yeah. Wow. Yeah, Ren mentioned this. Hmm. Feels kinda funny. Hot. I mean, my forehead! My forehead feels hot. Or is that yours. Yeah, no, it's gotta be yours. Duh. Heh. Seriously, what's up with this heat, though.

[heiroglyphs]

Jaune.

[She pulls her head away, cheery tone replaced with her usual exasperation. Her hand stays tight on his breastplate, but gives him enough slack to move how he wants.]

I invite you out to a private rooftop and give you every opportunity to kiss me, and you still haven't made a move? You really are a dolt.

[beaconed]

[ Ah. So he wasn't imagining that. ]

Wh... I... I thought we were gonna be friends... that's what you wanted, right?

[heiroglyphs]

[Her brow furrows and she shoves him. So you're gonna play that game, huh? She's seen movies, she can play too.]

I don't know what I want, Jaune. Maybe this world is too crazy to predict. Maybe I just want to close my eyes and see what happens.

[So she does. She crosses her arms and closes her eyes.]

[beaconed]

[ Jaune just... steps closer again and stares. His instinct to kiss girls kind of went kaput after the last one died. If anything, he's starting to assume Weiss is having some kinda PTSD. ]

.....Annnnnd? What's happening?

[heiroglyphs]

I'm getting annoyed...?

[She's tapping her foot. This is not how she planned this at all.]

[beaconed]

Y'know, it's not like you to wait for someone else to take initiative. [ He learned as much when he saw Weiss ask Neptune to the dance, which is traditionally uncommon. ]

'Cause deep down? You... don't really wanna do this. Not with me. S-So why don't we just... go back to our homes a-and, y'know, I'll... try to act like I'll never bring it up but I know I probably will 'cause... y-yup. [ HE CAN'T MAKE PROMISES HE CAN'T KEEP. ]

[heiroglyphs]

[Her eyes snap open in response.]

What do you mean this isn't like me? Who else would I be, Jaune? I'm Weiss. I've always been Weiss.

[I am absolutely not a robot pretending to be Weiss.]

[beaconed]

W-Whoa, why are you freaking out? Weiss, I-I think you're incredible, I'm just-- I can't, okay? I'm not who I used to be...!

[heiroglyphs]

[No, no this is all wrong. She picked her target, she found the perfect spot, she even picked out her one-liners. This was going to be just like the movies and he's ruining it. The heiress lets out a frustrated grunt before drawing Myrtenaster from her side and pointing it at his chest.]

Fine! We'll just do this the old-fashioned way!

[beaconed]

[ aol;hsahf Jaune instinctively has a hand on the sheathed Crocea Mors, but doesn't do anything yet. ]

W-What?! Which part of this is "old-fashioned"?! Weiss, wait--!!

[heiroglyphs]

It was going to be so cool. An electric first kiss before I drove my knife through your ribs. They'd write stories about it.

[She takes a step towards him.]

And you screwed it up.

[beaconed]

[ This is bad. Real bad! He needs to figure a way out of this, fast. At least he has determined that this is not a personality-altered Weiss, which means the real one is safe somewhere else.

Hopefully.

... Oh man, what if she isn't? ]

Weiss! Stop! ... I'll do it! Okay? I'll... I'll kiss you. We'll do it your way! All of it! I-I mean, might as well get something out of this, right...

[ That should buy him some time, yes. ]

[heiroglyphs]

[The robot cocks an eyebrow, nearly lowering her sword in response.]

You will? But I just said I wanted to kill you while we did it. You're weirder than Weiss said you were.

[beaconed]

She said what-- look I'm not that weird, okay? A-Anyway, you're gonna off me no matter what, right? So let's, uh... make it memorable, or however you put it.

...
Besides. I... I think I kinda understand you... yeah.

[heiroglyphs]

Don't try to understand me, Jaune. You couldn't get inside the real Weiss' head, you certainly won't get into mine.

[But she's lowering her guard. You may get closer, for now.]

[beaconed]

You're right.

[ Cautiously, Jaune steps towards her. ] It's... probably 'cause I'm a phony, too. It doesn't matter if I'm a person, or machine, or program, or... some kinda clone. In the end, you and I are are the biggest pretenders here. Even if you do what you said you were gonna, I'm glad we could share at least one honest moment together, right?

[ Maintaining eye contact and keeping her gaze where it needs to be, Jaune caresses her cheek and slowly leans in for a kiss. Somehow, this part comes easy for him, as if he's played it out in his head a million times when they first met.

Now comes the hard part, hinging on the hopes that she reciprocates for a few seconds. ]

[heiroglyphs]

What do you mean you're a ph--

[She's cut off as Jaune's lips touch hers. The robot hadn't prepared for how it felt. She'd seen it on TV, sure, but Weiss hadn't told her anything about kissing. It's entirely possible (likely, even) that Weiss herself doesn't even know what this is like. The sensation is... oddly soft, and warm? Like two little pillows pushed against your lips. No matter how you describe it, it's nothing like anything she had experienced before. Maybe she could just stand here for a little while and--

No, focus. He's right where you want him. One hand paws at his chest until she finds the side of his breastplate. With a bit of force, she shifts it slightly to the side and readies Myrtenaster. There should be just enough room this way. The angle is off a little, she'll probably miss the heart, but he shouldn't have much trouble bleeding out anyway.

All she needs to do is thrust her arm up and he'll be gone. Just... one little push. That's all it'll take.

Any time now.

...

Stop enjoying this.

...

Just kill him.

...

Please?]

[beaconed]

[ The hard part (aside from killing this fantasy), as mentioned, involves gently maneuvering Weiss against the door to the stairs, which he does as he pulls out Crocea Mors and stabs her through the torso. With the veteran blade being sharp as it is, Jaune applies additional force so that it goes through the door as well, leaving the fake Weiss pinned against it as he takes a step back.

It's his turn to be honest now, although doing this gives him no joy. He needs to keep reminding himself that this isn't a real person, as much as he feels guilty over tricking it. ]

The real Weiss Schnee might think I'm a loser, but... she would never try to hurt me. She wouldn't hurt anyone.

[ In contrast to his smooth moves from just a few seconds ago, Jaune's hand is shaking as he searches for Shiho's gun in his back pocket. ]

... And I won't let you hurt her.

[heiroglyphs]

[The robot gasps as the blade pierces her. The shock forces her to drop her rapier, which clatters against the hot roof before rolling away as if it knows that this is not its master. She screams and hisses, clawing out in hopes of reaching Jaune, but every moment drives the sword deeper into her. Pitch black blood is pouring from her sternum and her eyes are blazing with hate and pain.]

You bastard! Why couldn't you just lay down and die!