Chapter Text
JRWBY sits at the table at the Belladonnas.
Ghira: *scowels at Jaune*
Kali: Why?.. don't we start with introductions?..
Weiss: I am Weiss, pleased to meet you.
Kali: I am Kali, and this is Ghira.
Ghira: *guttural groan at Jaune*
Kali: Weiss Schnee... is it?..
Weiss: No... used to be. That seems to be the one thing my father and I can agree upon.
Ghira: He did what to his own daughter?!
Kali (hand on Ghira's chest patch): Easy.
Ghira: I'm... sorry... it's just... Blake is the most precious thing I have, and she has never done anything... to... And from what I've heard, Weiss has tried to follow the same path. So, why, just why, did your father do this?
Weiss: The simple... answer... is that he cares about Lien more than he does me. He cares about his place in the upper crust. I have seen almost no class divisions here, is that correct?
Ghira: There is strife, but everyone is free to do as they wish.
Weiss: In Atlas it is not the same at all. You are what they tell you to be...
Jaune: And she's never liked to be told what to do.
Yang: Present company excluded.
Weiss: *scowls at Yang*
Yang: Easy, Snow Angel, just trying to break the Weiss.
Kali: Perhaps not the best time.
Ghira: *scowls at Jaune*
Ghira: So, she was exiled?..
Weiss: Effectively, sir.
Ghira: And Jaune here was kind enough to look after her?
Jaune: All of us, sir.
Ghira: That is... admirable... and you do wear armour. You look like you could actually protect someone.
Blake: *rolls her eyes*
Blake: Daaad.
Ghira: What? There is nothing stronger than a man in his armour.
Ghira: *claps his chest*
Ghira: I have to say I like him better than the last blond you brought here.
Jaune: Thank you, sir.
Kali: Dear...
Ghira: *dismissive handwaving*
Ghira: *gestures to Yang*
Yang: Yang Xiao Long.
Kali: Blake's partner?
Yang: You know it.
Kali: Sun told us so much about you.
Yang: Sun did?
Kali: Blake is... as she has always been...
Blake: Mooom.
Kali: I like to hear stories about my heroic daughter. So, while you are here, I would be happy to talk to anyone about it... at any time...
Blake: *rolls her eyes*
Ghira: *points to Ruby*
Ghira: Which must make you Ruby Rose.
Ruby: That's me. I'm kind of the youngest... but still somehow ended up the leader. I mean...
Ruby: *mumbling*
Ghira: I figured he would be the one?..
Kali: Dear...
Yang: Oh, he is. Don't worry.
Ghira: *strokes his beard looking Jaune up and down*
Jaune: Jaune Arc, sir.
Ghira: Good posture. Good manners. Wears armour. Obviously protective of his women, but not at all controlling.
Yang: Unless we want him to be.
Blake: *ears flatten and she looks away*
Ghira: I have never seen that reaction in my daughter. She has always been as proud as... well... me...
Blake: Daaad.
Ghira: It's good to see you with someone who suits you. Reminds me of when I married Kali. He needs a beard, though...
Kali: It would look marvelous on you.
Jaune: You think so?
Ghira: Oh, I know so. Nothing is better than...
Ghira: *coughs*
Ghira: So, this is the part where you ask for my daughter's hand in marriage?
Jaune: Yes *voice cracks*
Jaune: I mean, yes sir.
Ghira: *strokes his beard*
Weiss: I must say, he is taking this far better than I expected.
Ghira: Yes, well, this one doesn't look like he couldn't to steal things the moment I look away.
Jaune: I would never!..
Ghira: *holds up his hand*
Ghira: Three conditions.
Jaune: Name them.
Ghira: One, I have to hear it from Blake. I know you don't like talking about yourself... but please... indulge me this one time?..
Blake: *rolls her eyes*
Blake: Of course I'm in love with him, why else would I bring him all the way out here?
Ghira: You did bring... that other one...
Blake: Like I said, he just followed me. He thought I was going to pick a fight with the White Fang.
Ghira: *strokes his beard*
Ghira: Two, Kali would never forgive me if I didn't do this. You must stay a week and tell her stories about Blake.
Jaune: That's a relief.
Ghira: Relief?
Jaune: I was hoping to see more of Menagerie. In the kingdoms we really don't see anything about it. And from what I've heard... there... Even if the White Fang were wrong, Blake was 100% right.
Blake: *leans into Jaune*
Blake: Not 100%. I found you guys, didn't I?
Jaune: *wraps his arm around Blake*
Blake: Jaune has never once cared that I was a Faunus, either way. He always treated me like... me... I swear Sun was only interested in me because I was a Faunus.
Ghira: *questioning scowl*
Jaune: Bullying is bullying. Good is good. Evil is evil. We can all be like this. I don't understand why the Faunus are treated the way they are, but it's clear they face a lot of adversity. Other than being a huntsman, I'm not really the one to help with this.
Kali: So, you want to see what it's like, first hand?
Jaune: That's one way to put it. In the kingdoms, we're taught the Menagerie is the Faunus' home, but that's not true. You've certainly made a home here, but the Faunus should be able to walk proudly through the kingdoms as any Human does.
Ghira: She certainly coached him well.
Ghira: *strokes his beard*
Jaune: I assure you sir, she has done no such things. She has actually told us... quite... little... about Menagerie...
Kali: Now, that is the Blake we know and love.
Blake: Mooom.
Ghira: What about the rest of you, what does Jaune think of the Faunus?
Yang: *snickers*
Yang: Sorry, but Jaune... he doesn't think anything of them.
Weiss: He sees us all as people. Not as a collective. Which is quite refreshing, coming from Atlas...
Ghira: And Menagerie. Boy?
Jaune: *looks at him nervously*
Ghira: Jaune? I can see the look in your eyes, one of the four greatest things on your mind is taking care of our daughter. Third.
Blake: Daaad.
Ghira: I get a kiss from my daughter.
Blake: *stands up, moves over, and kisses her father on the cheek*
Blake: *sits back down and snuggles up with Jaune*
Ghira: She used to do that with me.
Yang: Kiss?
Ghira: Hide behind me. It seems she has a new bulwark now. Well, I'm convinced. That said.
Ghira: *stands up*
Ghira: IF YOU EVER DO ANYTHING TO MY DAUGHTER...
Jaune: *shivers*
Ghira: *clears his throat*
Ghira: Standard father disclaimer.
Jaune: Of course, sir.
Kali: But you have to tell us, why did you visit us first?
Jaune: *raises his eyebrows*
Weiss: I told them, of course.
Jaune: It's... actually quite simple. If I was going to protect her, I would have to understand where she came from.
Ghira: *suddenly stands up and reaches across the table*
Ghira: *pulls Jaune across the table and into a hug*
Ghira: Son.