backdated to the 4th/body swap, closed

[whiteas]

action for jaune; lunchtime
[ Jaune and Weiss had been getting along for some time now. After their last real fight, it'd taken a while but they were honestly better than ever. And now, she was on her way to go patrol and peeking into his office while he was doing paperwork (or holowork, that she put him up to doing- you know, whatever). ]

You know, I wouldn't mind some company to patrol sector 5 if you want some fresh air and lunch.

[ She knows he doesn't do well with 'homework' for too long at a time. ]

action for jacques; evening
[ After a hectic afternoon with Jaune, it had taken every ounce of her patience when she got a call from the mayor's assistant that she needed to meet with him. Something about securing an event or something along those lines. Weiss had half a mind to just post-pone but given her current relationship with her father, the last thing she needed to do was aggravate it. She'd just.. have to try to keep her hands to herself. Wear gloves. That would solve the problem, right? It wouldn't, but she isn't aware of that.

So Weiss shows up wearing a dress and a jacket despite the weather not being cold, and light gloves, peeking her head through the mayor's office door tentatively. ]

Comments

action;

[aurabble]

[To Weiss, Jaune may appear to be just as distracted as usual, but he's having a harder time concentrating. He has to read over the words several times, and even then he doesn't fully understand them. Despite his attempts to convince himself he was in the right, he's felt a sense of wrongness ever since the incident with Emerald.

He doesn't feel like a hero. But he can't talk to Weiss about it because then he'll lose everything. He visibly jumps when he hears her voice, peeking over his shoulder.]

Lunch? [Nervously, he shakes his pen, before standing up and smiling more like himself.] Sure. Since you're inviting I'm gonna assume it's going to be something healthy.

action;

[whiteas]

I was thinking more along the lines of the brand new Belgian waffle house on Grand Trine Drive.

[ They can both eat healthy. And fishy. And she can kind of tell that Jaune seems like he's in a funk, but she has no idea what that actually means. But if he wants to talk, he will. He usually does. She feels like waffles will help. They're not quite pancakes, but that might just remind him of home anyway. No one gets triggered by waffles. ]

Come on.

action;

[aurabble]

[The word waffles definitely has Jaune brightening. Grinning, he tosses his pen on his desk, suddenly noticeably faster in his movements as he practically runs to Weiss's side.]

Nothing motivates me like waffles. Let's go.

action;

[whiteas]

[ Belgian waffles are, in fact, the best kind of waffles too. She has to dodge out of the doorway so that Jaune doesn't plow her over with his enthusiasm for breakfast grains. She starts walking, though once they're in the elevator she gives him a side glance. ]

Are you okay? You've been a little.. off.

action;

[aurabble]

[All he can think about now are delicious, sweet, crispy fluffy Belgian waffles. Though once they're in the elevator, he grows visibly tense, a nervous edge in his voice.]

Off? What do you mean--? [He wants to tell her. Experience with their last fight tells him that it will become much worse if he waits. But he's so afraid. They fixed their friendship once already; he doesn't want to ruin it again. Sinking a little against the elevator wall, he sighs, not looking at her.]

There's something I need to tell you, but...can it wait?

Re: action;

[whiteas]

I mean I asked if you were okay and you tightened up like Ruby when you ask about her homework when she's playing video games. You wear your heart on your sleeve, Jaune.

[ She doesn't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it's a true thing. She nods tentatively. She hasn't caught him in anything that's personally offended her, so he can get away with a little time. ]

Sure.

action;

[aurabble]

That's kind of an exaggerated example, isn't it? [He laughs anxiously, mumbling.] Maybe that's part of the problem.

Thanks. [He pauses, unsure if he wants to add the next part.] I just, I hope you know how important our friendship is to me. And what it means to let me make a difference.

action;

[whiteas]

It may be a touch of hyperbole. [ She looks curious at that comment about his heart, but she already agreed to drop it for now. ]

I know it is. Even when things get rough, you always work to make them right. It's one of the reasons I don't just write you off when I get angry.

action;

[aurabble]

Uh...right. Hyper bowls. [Whatever the heck that means.]

Glad to know trying to fix my mistakes is enough to get you to stay friends with me. [He sounds like he's kidding, but he's still nervous. Time for a subject change.] So I forgot to ask, why weren't you in the fencing competition?

action;

[whiteas]

Hyperbole! It means a non-literal exaggeration.

[ The Jaune Dictionary expands again. ]

You haven't made one big enough yet for me to give up on you. [ Sometimes she wonders if she's too forgiving, but then she remembers that somehow Mercury hasn't murdered anyone since she started working with him instead of against him. It's working out. It's the people who surprise her who are usually the problems. ] Because I knew everyone who was participating likely had no idea how to perform actual fencing. It's not a show of skill if there are very few people who actually have practiced the skill being asked for, and it's not straight combat.

action;

[aurabble]

But aren't most exaggerations non-literal? That's why they're exaggerations. [He thinks. He's confused.]

Right. I-- [He hopes not. Weiss has given him too many chances already. It may not have directly been something to harm her, but he's sure this wasn't the Nova City she wanted. He failed. And now he's just waiting for the floor to drop beneath him.] None of us knew how to fence, but I wouldn't have minded losing to you.

action;

[whiteas]

That's not the point. The point is that if you're competing against a bunch of people who don't respect or understand the style, all you end up with is a bunch of sore losers. Winning wouldn't prove anything because they'd just undermine it and say that my craft is worthless instead of congratulating me on a skill well executed. [ And the people here are terrible sportsmen tbh. Way too much pride going on about combat. ]

action;

[aurabble]

That's when you do that [He draws a circle with his hand, then goes in a downward diagonal direction.] thing and take them down. But I guess it wouldn't be worth hearing them whine. [The elevator stops and he starts to head out.]

RIGHT ON TIME

[thedaddyissue]

[ Jacques looks up from his desk when he hears Weiss approaching (those heels aren't exactly stealthy) and gives her a nod of acknowledgement, scribbling something down quick before he closes the folder in front of him so he can direct his attention at her. ]

Weiss, thank you for coming. I wanted to speak to you about an event I'm looking to hold at the end of the month and I was wondering if - are you alright dear? [Because who in their right mind wears a jacket and gloves in summer?] You haven't caught a cold, have you? Schnees don't get sick, after all. We're better than that.

[Is that a warning or is he concerned? We'll never know. Who am I kidding we know]

[whiteas]

It's.. a minor injury from a fight earlier today. It'll heal by tonight, but you did teach me to always look presentable.

[ Also she is definitely coming straight to find him next time she gets sick. She'll bioterrorism the Schnee right out of him. ] Perhaps that gene is more from the Gelè side of the family, Father. I could've sworn I've caught the flu before.

[ Before he can respond, with the hopes that he won't zero in on that comment, she folds her hands behind her back and straightens up. ]

What sort of event were you looking to hold?

[thedaddyissue]

[ Oh, he caught it alright. He was in the middle of nodding to her words when she dropped that little bomb in there. He wants to shout at her, he really does, but he needs something from her so he can't. Not yet.

He'll get her back later.

He clenches his fist around his pen, trying to calm himself just a little before he speaks. ]

Our mutual friend Mr. Arc [ that's right he's "getting chummy" with her friend ] brought a very important issue to my attention a month or so back in regards to the treatment of non or partially organic lifeforms. I'm working on making a few changes to our city's policies to address these concerns and assist them. I'd like to hold a rally when I announce it, and I'd like to make sure there's ample protection around the venue. Based on the reports I've read there's a good chance that not all of Nova City's citizens will take kindly to them, but I believe you were the one who told me that we have to do what is right even if it's a risk. [ Listen that concert might not have ended well but he's trying to ease some of the damages if he can, even if it involves spitting some bullshit back to her. ] Though I believe you could help make it a bit less of a risk to my well being.

[ He's quiet for a moment before he softly adds one more line. ]

We're not a team, Weiss, but I would like for us to be.

[ No he wouldn't. ]

[whiteas]

[ She doesn't really know if he's telling the truth or not. The idea that Jacques of all people would actually care about anyone other than himself is one that she knows is ludicrous at this point. ]

I'll do my job as City Guardian, of course. You'll have a deputy and a number of the robotic police units dedicated to protection at the event. You should note that the robotic police are non-sentient so as to avoid getting any living designated creature in the line of fire on routine police work, much like Atlas, but other robotics units around town are, so be careful not to confuse them. If you want to play up my work as something people should be proud of you for, my deputy team and I did manage to take out the Red Claw terrorist organization that was responsible for most of Nova City's cyborg-related crime, and has been working extensively with their primary targets to ensure that any and all actual evidence they had of discriminatory practices within the companies and subsidiaries has been eliminated and we are happy to do so when presented with evidence instead of aggression.

[ She'll at least give him that, even if she won't agree to team work. She's still keeping her hands behind her back. ]

[thedaddyissue]

[He'll take it.]

Excellent! I'll be sure to mention that the Guardian herself and her team will be enforcing these laws then should any information be brought to their attention. With my changes and you backing them, I'm sure it will bring ease to their minds, and with any luck discourage anyone from discriminating against them.

[He rises, picking up a few files as he readies himself to leave.]

Have you eaten yet? Perhaps we could discuss some of the details over dinner.

[whiteas]

As we do with any laws.

[ It's taking everything in her not to get with the sass right now. But he's not wrong, these aren't terrible ideas. She just doesn't trust the source. ]

I never knew you were so passionate about equal rights, Mayor Schnee.

[ She takes a few steps backward and off to the side, as if she's getting out of his way. It's not like she wants to give him the right of way, but after what happened with Jaune.. well, accidental touching is the last thing she wants. ]

I had Belgian waffles with Jaune earlier. I'm afraid I'll have to decline.

THIS TONE IS TOO CASUAL FOLLOWING THAT ARGUMENT SORRY

[thedaddyissue]

[He shrugs. There's no point lying to her, really; she knows how he operates. Besides, his motives probably won't matter so long as it gives them equality. Damn faunus lover probably gets off that.]

I'm not. But it's the way things are done back home, and it has helped to mitigate the faunus' rage towards humans, so I figure it will do the same thing here. Besides, it'll help me win a whole other group of fans.

Shame. Well, some other time then. You should consider eating something besides waffles, though. That's not a proper dinner. [Don't let Jaune's poor eating habits rub off on you.] We should get going; it's getting late.

[He's not sure why she's stepping out of the way since he has to lock the door, so he goes to place an arm at the small of her back intending to shepherd her out before him.]

quietly retcons any uses of 'father' in this thread to 'mayor schnee' shhhh

[whiteas]

I don't eat waffles regularly, a new place opened up and- That's none of your business. [ Stop treating her like your daughter or like you have any right to chide her about her eating habits. She's irritated enough that she doesn't quite realize that he's going to try to touch her to get her out until it's too late. ]

Don't-

[ It happens before she can even reach out to push him away. The fated moment. ]

Re: quietly retcons any uses of 'father' in this thread to 'mayor schnee' shhhh

[thedaddyissue]

[It's a habit to tell her what to do, what can he say? As luck (or not) would have it, he never has the chance to respond. Or rather, he goes to but gets about three words in before he notices something's wrong.]

What? A father can't be... [Mainly that his voice is now feminine. And he's staring at himself. He looks down and - yup, that's a dress he's in - before he looks back at himself, eyes wild.]

What did you do?!

[Because clearly this is some sort of dust magic that Weiss has done, right?]

[whiteas]

Me? I didn't do anything, it's some kind of stupid thing this world is doing which is why I told you not to touch me.

[ Well, he knows why she's wearing gloves even though it's stupidly hot now. God. God. What the hell was this thing on her face how do you handle this mustache dad? She's definitely grabbing the mustache. ]

Why do you have this?! It's so uncomfortable! [ #Priorities. But don't think she hasn't noticed that her musculature is slower, weaker, less flexible, god why does her lower back ache?? This is horrible. This is way worse than with Jaune's body even if it's clean. But this is worse in way other ways too. This body made her, UHG WHY GOD UHG ]

[thedaddyissue]

[She did not just diss the ‘stache.]

I’ll have you know it gives an air of dignity. [She’s really complaining about that being uncomfortable? These heels are killer! He feels unsteady just standing; he’s afraid to see what happens when he walks. And man is this bra uncomfortable!

Oh god what is he supposed to do about showering? Or going to the bathroom? There is nothing right with being in your daughter’s body.]

Change us back this instant!

[whiteas]

You look like the character that sells fried chicken in Attleton!

[ Both of her hands (his hands?) go up to his mouth to cover it. But it's too late, it's come out. She couldn't hold it back. The stress of the situation was too much. She's sure he's never stepped foot in a fried chicken place so he didn't actually know, but the cat is out of the bag now. ]

It's not something I have control over, Father! When it happened with Jaune we had to wait a while before it would let us switch back again!

[ And the heels are 100% Jacques's fault. Who puts their kid in heels that young? This is her life now. ]