Chapter Text
Inked
It was in times like these that Neptune wondered yet again whether it would be worth it to just pack his bags and become a sheep herder like he'd always dreamt of becoming. Quiet atmosphere, nice farm life, sheltered countryside girls that would fall in love with his clumsy city-boy ways. The farther away from Beacon U., the better.
Or maybe he could be a small-town cop, someplace the sheriff was the law and credentials weren't needed to apply. That way, he could have a badge and a gun and a fancy moustache, and no one would judge him for it because he'd be idealized. Ladies loved a man in uniform, right?
Or maybe he'd just start working in a better coffee shop- something quainter, something less commercial. A mom-and-pop joint at the corner of the street, perhaps, with hanging plants in the windows and a little grime on the sills that everyone seemed to ignore. Maybe once he traded in his green Starbucks apron for a more hipster haircut, he would find himself some wealthy influencer girlfriend who would fall in love with his latte art, and he'd get to live his life out going on adventures with her forever.
As his mind slipped in and out of different fantasies, his eyes focused back in onto the glaring number pasted smack-dab in the middle of his screen. It was far greater than just a few tens of thousands of Lien.
I'm never going to graduate. God, I'm never going to get into fourth year if I can't even pay for this year... Why are international tuition fees so much?
He had a month to find the money. Just one month to figure out how in the world he was going to have enough Lien to basically put down a fucking down-payment for a house- of course, that money would be swallowed up by Beacon's Financial Office without a second thought. At least I don't have to worry about paying rent, he thought glumly. His dingy apartment with his best friend was paid for till the end of the school year thanks to his job as an RA, but there was only so much dry cereal and microwave mac-and-cheese a guy could take in his life.
Letting out a tiny whimper of protest, he slammed his laptop shut and packed up his belongings. He could practically hear the chiding condescension of his mother, her advice that he should just, "settle for going to Vacuo," ringing through his mind. It mocked him in his plight, and he needed to do something to drown it out or he was going to lose his mind.
Amidst the din of the general student population buzzing around between classes, no one was paying attention to the sour grimace on his face. It was still the middle of the day. With classes in full swing still, everyone was rushing about through the main student centre without sparing him a second glance, giving him ample time to run calculations in his mind. Maybe if he cut back here- stopped going out there- saved up that-
No matter what calculations he ran, however, nothing was going to make this better.
With angry, sharp motions, he slung his backpack over his shoulder, shoved his hands into his pockets, and began to mope his way to the nearest printing centre. He had a paper to print out for the next day, and there was no point putting it off while he waited for his friend.
As he rounded the corner to the lobby, however, he caught long, silvery hair out of the corner of his eye. Instantly, he felt some of the tension in his neck ease. "Well, hello there, ladies," he cooed, flashing his most brilliant smile at the quartet of young woman walking towards him.
Their reactions were just as expected- Blake waved calmly, Yang grinned, and Ruby's face lit up at the sight of any and all familiar faces, as always.
And, as usual, Weiss' cheeks darkened ever so slightly, and he felt his heart begin to race.
It was amazing to see how the girls who had shared his English class in their first year were still so close to one another. Yet, despite having spent almost every Saturday morning with the girl for years, thanks to the shenanigans of their friend group (why they couldn't still play video games in lecture halls, he'd never know, but he would never be upset at the chance to sit thigh-to-thigh pressed against Weiss at their courtyard picnic tables while playing board games instead) he still hadn't made his move.
Sage told him he was pathetic. Scarlet simply tutted annoyingly every time Weiss left, as if to show his disapproval that she was leaving with Neptune by her side.
At least Sun never made fun of him. His roomie, his best bro, his confidant, always had his back.
Bringing his attention back to the girls, he sent them a suave grin, eyes quickly scanning the crowd to land onto Weiss. "So. Anything new?"
"Why don't you tell us?" Yang replied cheerily, slapping a hand against his back in a friendly greeting.
Instantly, Neptune doubled over in pain. "Watch the shoulder, Yang!" he winced, recoiling away from the blonde.
Ruby's eyes widened like silver saucers. "Woah, you weren't kidding," she murmured to Yang.
Her sister simply leered, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I can't believe you and Sun actually got them done." She whistled appreciatively. "Matching dude-bro tattoos? You've gotta let us see them sometime."
Desperate to save face in front of Weiss, whose expression was a mix between mirthful and utterly unimpressed, Neptune straightened up and chuckled through his pain, "I'm sure you want to get us both shirtless, but ladies, please-"
Blake cut him off, the girl flipping long black hair over her shoulder. "We'll let you know if we're going to the Winter Formal, but probably not."
Neptune pouted. He had been planning the dormitory's Winter Formal for weeks with the other RAs- how could his favourite residents not show up? "But what could possibly stop you from coming to-"
"My father's decided to throw a gala that evening," Weiss explained. To his surprise, she was almost apologetic. "I need to attend."
And just like that, Neptune's heart fell into his boots. The four women waved and walked away, leaving him to trudge through the busy hallways alone, nothing but a smarting ache on his shoulder and the disappointment that Weiss wouldn't go with him to the Formal the only things left to accompany him on his voyage to meet up with his roommate.
At least Sun could commiserate in some way. His shoulder probably hurt, too- their tattoos were still pretty fresh.
Fuck. I still have to figure out how to pay tuition.
It wasn't a great day for Neptune. Maybe that sheep herder idea held water, after all.