"I tell ya Nick, it's a damn catastrophe!"
Jaune peeked into the family kitchen, his eyes wide. The thirteen year old was used to tall men: His father was nearly seven foot tall, same with his grandfather. Yet here was a man who could barely fit into their kitchen, sitting across the table from his dad.
He was built broad and brawny, with a face weathered by the sun. His eyes were deep blue, his hair was silver brown. His chin was like a lantern made of solid brass. He wore riding leathers, khaki, black, and yellow. A red scarf was tied around his neck, and he wore a tall gray ten gallon hat. A revolver hung from his belt, and a shotgun over his back. He sipped his beer, the same as his father.
"All your hands just up and quit, huh?" Nick asked sympathetically. The tall man nodded.
"Mm. A new Dust Mine opened up, and they all went to go work for the Schnees instead of me! ME! Most of 'em I taught the cattle business when they were no taller than a damn fence post! All my cattle are ready to go down to Bulwark, and they just up and leave!"
"Well, you didn't exactly help your case, Rooster Duke," Isabel observed, sipping some tea at the other kitchen door, "You had a few hands willing to work, if you let them go up to the Schnee mines to see how the work was."
Rooster snorted.
"If you can't trust a man in safety, you can't trust them in the Grimm infested wilds. I've seen men turn tail at the hint of a Beowulf, where only hours before they'd sworn everything to the job in the bar. No, no..."
"You could wait until next year," Nick suggested. "A lot of ranchers wait every two years for a drive."
Rooster huffed.
"Lot of ranchers get fat off government money. Paid tonot grow,tonot work,all for some politician's pocketbook. Ain't for me, Nick. And it ain't for either of you, even in an old town like this."
Nick smirked. Isabel nodded slowly.
"No more than we have to," Isabel agreed. "So, why are you here?"
"I need hands, and I need Hunters," Rooster stated flatly. "I can pay you top rate, Nick, you're worth it. I can't pay you until we get to Bulwark, but it'll be worth your while."
Nick looked to Isabel. She smiled at him.
"The training school is closed for the season, and I think Sarge can run the militia for a few months without you," Isabel observed.
"Guess I'm your man," Nick chuckled. "As for hands... Well. Mercer Sith is off school. Orchid can handle a horse. The Gaffer boy is old enough."
"Kids?" Rooster made a face. Nick shrugged.
"You got any better ideas?"
Rooster scowled harder. He sighed.
"Ain't like I got much choice, God help me." He looked over. "What about your son?"
His parents looked over, and Jaune winced. Her walked out into the open.
"He's too young-" Isabel started. Jaune shook his head.
"I can ride a horse, and handle a rope, sir," Jaune stated. "I also know how to shoot a gun, though I want to use a sword."
"He ain't even had his Aura unlocked," Rooster growled.
"I'm hoping he'll take after his mother and become a doctor," Nick said. Jaune shook his head.
"Dad, Mom... If Mister Duke needs a hand? I'll be a hand. Let me help."
Nick hummed. Isabel shook her head.
"Nick, please-!"
"It's his decision," Nick stated calmly. Rooster stared at him, hard, with those brilliant blue eyes. It felt like a knife was cutting right through him. Jaune stood his ground.
"I want to protect people, and fight the Grimm," he said, "And working as a hand on your drive will help me do it."
"It won't be easy, and I'll drive you until you can't even see straight," Rooster stated, cold and hard, "It will be rough and tough. No breaks, not even on Sundays. But if you can make it, boy... You'll be paid well in lien, and you'll be a man. What do you say?"
Jaune glanced over at his parents. Isabel frowned deeply. She looked to Rooster.
"You'll keep him safe?"
"I'll teach him to keep himself safe," he grunted. Nick nodded grimly.
"We'll keep him safe, Isabel, I swear."
Isabel sighed. She looked to Jaune.
"Is this really what you want?"
"Yes Mom, it is," Jaune said.
Isabel slowly nodded. Rooster looked to Jaune.
"Well then, Mister Arc," Rooster stated, holding out his hand, "Welcome aboard the Duke Ranch Company."
Jaune shook Rooster's hand. The grip was stronger than steel, but Jaune held back his wince.
"Yes sir!"
Two years later...
Ruby Rose trudged around Beacon in tears. First her older sister had abandoned her right as they touched down,thensome snooty white-haired girl had blown her up with some Dust and yelled at her, and now... Now...!
"Now I'mlost!"Ruby wailed, looking around her surroundings. There were some old stone stables painted in white and green, the scent of horse and manure in the air. There were some paddocks and fences around, and a gorgeous view of Vale proper.
She hadn't thought Beacon would have stables, but she stood corrected. She sighed and bowed her head.
"Not where I want to be," she muttered.
A few notes from a guitar filled the air. She blinked and walked over to one of the stables. She looked in curiously.
She met a horse: A rich, chestnut mare with inquisitive eyes. Ruby yelped as the horse whinnied at her.
"Easy, Orleans, easy," a male voice said easily. She looked over in the other stable. A blond boy, two years older than her, sat on a hay bale. He was thumbing his guitar. He wore a black wide brimmed stetson on his head. He wore old white armor over a black shirt and dark blue pants. His boots were rugged and worn, but tough leather. A revolver hung from his belt on his right side, while a sword hung from the left. A well woven blue and white poncho hung over his shoulders. He looked at her with intense blue eyes.
Ruby flushed.
"Well miss, you appear to be lost," the young man said with a polite smile.
"I am, on my first day here at Beacon," Ruby sighed. The young man snapped his fingers and put his guitar aside.
"Oh, damn. I forgot all about that," he muttered. He stood up. "Begging your pardon, miss. I can get you right to Orientation, don't you worry."
"You can?!" Ruby gasped happily. The boy nodded.
"Sure can," he said. "My name's Jaune Arc, what's yours?"
"R-Ruby Rose!" Ruby said cheerfully. "It-It's great to meet you!"
Jaune smiled.
"Same."
He hopped over the stable door, and walked over to his horse. He patted her as she neighed in frustration.
"Now now, Orly, I'll be back here soon, promise," Jaune said. Orly huffed but seemed appeased. He looked over at Ruby and offered his arm.
"Shall we, Miss Rose?"
"O-Oh! Yes!" Ruby stuttered, blushing hard. "Um... Wh-Where do I...?"
Jaune reached out and took her hands. He gently put them around his bicep and smiled.
"O-Oh," Ruby mumbled, "Um..."
"I know it's a bit old fashioned, Miss Rose, but it will ensure you don't get lost," Jaune said with a smile.
"N-No! I really appreciate it!" Ruby said. "I-I like old fashioned! Like... Um... That revolver! It's a Smith and Winston 686!"
"Yes miss," Jaune nodded, guiding Ruby up the path.
"And that shotgun! A Winchester 76! They're classics! Any mechashift options?"
"'Fraid not," Jaune said, "They're a little too finicky for my taste. Sides, I switch to my sword if I run outta rounds."
"But-But mechashift weapons are the coolest!" Ruby insisted. Jaune nodded.
"I'm sure yours is amazing, Miss Rose. But dust and grime gets in the works and suddenly, your gun can't shift into anything else."
Ruby pouted up at him.
"Maybe if they do it wrong, but I can do it right!"
Jaune nodded and chuckled quietly.
"I'd be happy to see you do it, Miss Rose."
"You can just call me Ruby, you know," Ruby insisted. "I-I mean... If we're friends, and all? Er... If we can be friends?"
Jaune smiled.
"I'd be happy to be your friend, Miss Rose."
"Ruby!"
"That may take some getting used to, Miss Rose."
Ruby groaned.
They made it to the orientation hall, a large auditorium filled with chattering students. Ruby beamed.
"Oh, thank you Jaune! Uh... Um... So will I get to see you around?"
Jaune nodded.
"I expect so. You're a new student, ain'tcha?"
"Yes!"
Jaune beamed and winked.
"So am I."
Ruby gasped.
"You... You are?!"
"Yes miss." Jaune shook his head. "I near plum forgot it was orientation day! Thanks for that!"
"Wha..." Ruby gaped. "Have you been living in the stable? How long?"
"Well... I had to take the long way with Orly. I wasn't going to leave her behind," Jaune said. He then shrugged. "About two weeks?"
He smiled.
"Hey, hunting's all done outdoors, right?"
Ruby blinked, then giggled.
"Oh geez... You're... You're kind of weird, aren't you Jaune?"
Jaune shrugged.
"If you say so, Miss Rose. But would it be all right for us to be weird together?"
Ruby beamed.
"Yeah!"
"Works for me..."
