G.N. Chapter 34 (Patreon)

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Chapter 34 Episodes by the Sea

For Scarlett Arc, this vacation could not have come at a better time.

Things were changing back at Reach. Mr Brown had been nothing but complimentary to her work, but it did not change that much of it had been taking its toll on her. Matt was helpful; she appreciated that he made himself available to her and he was never too far away.

But that might not be the case for much longer.

Ray Shipping was a vital service provider within Vale, and its reach was growing; they had even managed to get a foothold in Atlas, well, Mantle, to be specific, but it was something. They had tried to move into Mistral, but that was a harsher environment, ironically.

The many different bandit groups and outlaw bands made it difficult to maintain a reliable shipping schedule.

Mr Brown had even gone so far as to say the most reliable way of shipping something in Mistral was to pay a gang. He even remarked that if you had the Lien, you could get some of the fastest shipping around, though he didn’t elaborate on that, only that it wasn’t worth it.

Something about drawing the attention of a bird.

The point was with the company growing, Mr Brown was intending to send Matt to Vale so he could assist in setting up a new HQ. Mr Brown had won a whole building in a game with some Mistrali guy, and now he wanted to capitalise on it. It was an excellent opportunity for Matt, and he was willing to do it, but…

Scarlett and Matt had enjoyed a very casual relationship since after he helped them out with the Saphron incident. They were relaxed about it, and both maintained very intense schedules, so it worked out that they could maintain easy access to each other.

That would change, though, if Matt moved to Vale.

The worst part was they didn’t know how long he would have to be there. The set-up was unlikely to go on without a hitch, and they couldn’t make set plans because… well, truthfully, Vale could be a real bitch if she wanted to. Like most capital cities, you cram that many people into the same place and you are bound to get a maelstrom of issues.

Vale did its best, maintaining a degree of district management that was arguably the best in the world. It didn’t change the fact that it had gangs, crime, discrimination, black businesses and a homeless population that was honestly worrying to behold.

They had already had to send in two security teams to clear out squatters in their new building. Two, because the first team they sent found an Aura user who was off his head on who knows how many drugs, and he nearly killed one of them.

The second team did not have such an issue… The second team also had much heavier firepower and a Huntsman to back them up.

That was what she was sending Matt off to…

No, she wasn’t sending him. If anything, she was holding him back; she was being selfish, and she knew it, but she wanted him nearby. She had come to enjoy having him nearby; their casual situation was perfect for her. When she needed him, she could have him… when she was bogged down with so much work she couldn’t see him for sometimes weeks, he knew to give her space.

Whether it was lunch or a… a body to hold, Matt was there, and she had maybe taken that for granted.

The vacation had come around at the perfect time, giving her the excuse to get away with the truth she didn’t want to face. She already knew exactly what she was going to do; she was just pissed with herself for doing it because…

‘Because you are a selfish bitch,’ Scarlett thought spitefully, sipping her drink as she relaxed on the beach.

Of course, Matt had to go; in Reach, he was the techy that Mr Brown trusted, but in Vale, he could be the head of a whole department. He would even be given a degree of Valean Security Clearance since he would be given corporate access to the CCT.

It was a definite step up, and Scarlett would never keep it from him. She was struggling with the whole being happy for him a bit, and it was doing nothing for her mood.

Hence, good vacation vibes.

And for the most part, it had been great, the beach, the quiet town, the culture… she had done her damndest to fill every moment she could with things to do. But then there were the moments like now, where despite having a book to read and the peaceful sound of the waves, she could not stop thinking about back home.

She glanced over to Jaune, who was walking out of the waves, currently in the process of slicking the hair out of his eyes.

As a rule of thumb, it was safe on the beach closest to Himawari; the shallow water in the cove kept most aquatic Grimm from approaching. That did not mean you could afford to be stupid and head off to the beach alone, especially when it was scarcely populated.

Jaune had volunteered to go with her, and Scarlett was quite happy with such a turn of events because if there was one thing she could count on Jaune for, it was being mindful. She had explained that she would like to read her book in peace, and Jaune had agreed immediately.

What he did following his agreement left her a little startled, but considering that this was her brother, Reach’s local cryptid, she was talking about it really shouldn’t have. She had heard way back from her dad that Jaune was a deft swimmer who was practically semi-aquatic.

This, in her opinion, didn’t do him justice; Jaune made the fish look inadequate.

She had been only just pulling out her book when Jaune announced he was going to go for a swim, Scarlett nodding, not thinking anything of it. Then she watched as Jaune dived beneath the surface; she lost sight of him, but when she next spotted him, her brother had covered a shocking amount of distance.

He had even waved back at her to let her know he was all right.

Scarlett waved back, trying to work out just how the hell he had swam that fast.

She shook it off quickly enough, though. Jaune was an oddity, and being a great swimmer wasn’t the most surprising thing about her brother.

“Sister, are you all right?” Jaune asked, snapping Scarlett out of her thoughts.

“Y-yeah bro, sorry was just… thinking about stuff,” Scarlett waved him off, putting her book back in her bag and checking her Scroll.

“Is it something I can help with?” Jaune enquired, his desire to help his family as unwavering as ever.

“… It’s about Matt,” Scarlett admitted.

“… Does he need to disappear?” Jaune asked with a monotone delivery, which was entirely too unnerving for most, but Scarlett was a little more used to her brother’s mannerisms.

“No Jaune… he might be-… He is moving to Vale,” Scarlett corrected herself.

“… I see,” Jaune replied, his expression shifting.

“I… I don’t-“

“You don’t want him to,” Jaune guessed.

“I do! I just… I don’t want him to be away from me,” Scarlett explained.

“… I was under the preconception that you and Matt were engaged in a ‘casual’ courtship that does not allow for such… possessiveness?” Jaune uttered her brother's quirkiness, making Scarlett snort.

“Courtship?”

“I am unsure as to what the proper terminology could be… I was under the assumption that if you slept with someone regularly, then you are in an intimate relationship,” Jaune gave as a way of explanation.

“Oh, and you have some knowledge of this?” Scarlett teased.

“Not even by half, my understanding of yours and Matt's relationship is almost entirely from Saphron explaining it to me… It perplexes me if I am being quite honest,” Jaune admitted, his tone exposing his confusion and making Scarlett giggle.

“You are such a dork,” Scarlett teased, pulling her brother to her side, uncaring of the few stray salty drops that fell on her shoulder.

“A compliment, and you know it,” Jaune replied, his slight smile appearing.

“True…” Scarlett nodded, the waves taking centre stage as silence reigned between them.

“Jaune… what do you think of ‘love’,” Scarlett asked, looking up to her younger brother, his eyes locked on the shoreline.

“Love?”

“Yeah, I know you love us, but… what about the other types of love, not just the familial sort?” Scarlett enquired.

The salty breeze of the ocean dashed over her, sending her hair dancing as the scent of the ocean washed over her. Jaune’s damp hair did not move an inch, his body having gone still at her question.

Then he smiled.

Scarlett was a little shocked at the sight of the expression. It was not his usual smile; it wasn’t his amused smile or even the slightly manic one she had seen him wear when he was in the middle of training.

This was… sad…

“If I were to ask you the same question, dear sister… what would you say? What is the love you ask me of? As you said, the love I have for you, my sisters, is unquestionable as I treasure all of you deeply,” Jaune stated, leaning his head onto hers. Scarlett was too perplexed by the change in her brother to care about his wet hair.

“I guess… Love is a feeling; it's that thing that makes you want to be with someone at all times and…”

“Is that not simply desire?” Jaune asked, his tone not harsh but still sharp.

Scarlett blinked; she saw her brother looking at her with an intensity that was hard to put into words. “I-I suppose…”

“Then is that love? Merely the desire to be with another?”

“No… no love is more than that, right?” Scarlett mumbled, looking down at her hands, “It’s more than just wanting to be with them … wanting them to be happy, to see them flourish?”

“… I can’t deny such; I feel much the same for you girls; I would see all your goals within your grasp if merely you asked,” Jaune nodded. “But as I feel it for you, is that still not familial? Our parents likely share my thoughts, so it is not the love you speak of then, is it?”

“No… I guess not… then isn't it wanting to… um… you know, be intimate with them, to enjoy that sort of… carnal aspect with another?” Sufferingly, Scarlett enquired, seeing that Jaune did not react despite her embarrassment.

“Is that not more desire?”

“It's different!” Scarlett bit out Jaune, only nodding at her to continue, “You don’t need to love someone to want to fu-… ahh…”

“Engage in intercourse?” Jaune uttered, a single brow raised.

“Shut it… besides, that sounds too clinical… having sex doesn’t require love,” Scarlett nodded with more certainty.

“… That much is true,” Jaune agreed, though there was something in his voice that made Scarlett feel a slight chill.

Though it could have just been the sea breeze.

“But sex plays a part in love!” Scarlett quickly continued, “Casual sex is… different… shit, I sound like a fucking teenager.”

“You are not that much older than one,” Jaune intoned.

“Hush you… OK, so desire is part of love, but it's not all of it,” Scarlett nodded.

“Sexual desire, you mean,” Jaune remarked.

Scarlett, hearing what was her brother's teasing tone, was quick to punch him in the arm, though Jaune did not so much as flinch.

“Yes, sexual desire there happy,” Scarlett harumphed.

“Mm…”

“Jaune, we don’t have to keep talking if you don’t want to,” Scarlett spoke emphatically, “I don’t wanna make you uncomfortable or anything.”

Jaune turned to his sister, his soft expression lightening as he sat up straight. “It’s amusing to me that we are in Mistral having this conversation.”

“Huh?”

“Did you know that long ago, a group of Mistrali philosophers got together and tried to categorise and explain love?” Jaune asked, once more changing the whole tone of their conversation.

“… Are you really turning my seeking advice on my love life into a history lecture…” Scarlett deadpanned.

“Bear with me if you would,” Jaune asked politely.

“… You are so lucky I love you,” Scarlett groaned, “right, teach, lay it on me.”

Jaune chuckled, a rare noise that did a lot to lift Scarlett’s spirits, “as good a place as any for us to start. Storge, the natural love between family members whether it be a parent to their child or that which siblings share.”

“’kay, so familial love got it next,” Scarlett ushered.

“Right, well next, how about Philia, the affectionate love, love that is formed from a shared affinity for one another,” Jaune informed.

“So that’s like for couples, then?”

“No, this is the love of friendship, love not based on attraction but from fondness. A good example would be our mother and Tami,” Jaune lectured.

Scarlett smirked, “Or you and Orr?”

Jaune nodded happily, “Exactly!”

Scarlett frowned; it was no fun if he didn’t react.

“Right, so that’s two…”

“Then we have Ludus,” Jaune paused here, thinking for a moment, “Ludus is different from the other two… it lacks commitment.”

“Ah.”

“Yes,” Jaune nodded, pleased his words were not lost on his sister, “this is the playful love as it is called. Those who partake seek fun free of the bonds other loves may impose… I think you understand my meaning?”

“Yeah, so casual sex and friends with benefits, right?”

“I will take your word for it that those are things and just continue,” Jaune agreed, “I feel this one… might have some connotations towards our earlier conversation, no?”

“… Perhaps.”

Scarlett went quiet, and Jaune paused, seeing the introspection Scarlett was performing and not wanting to interrupt. But as the silence dragged on, Jaune observed Scarlett become more and more aggravated.

“You know…” Jaune spoke up, not continuing until his sister met his eyes, “I was wondering for a while. How come if you and Matt are so… casual, why is it that you never slept with anyone else?”

Scarlett’s gaze narrowed, “How do you know I didn’t?”

“Intuition,” Jaune replied without missing a pause.

Scarlett snorted, shaking her head at the absurdity of her brother’s response; though he was correct, she doubted it was his socialite nature that clued him in. “Because I didn’t.”

“… Would it not have been more ‘fun’ to do so?” Jaune questioned once more, his tone not judgemental but genuinely curious.

“Maybe… doesn’t matter. That wasn’t the premise of why I started things with Matt,” Scarlett explained.

“No?”

Scarlett shook her head, “I didn’t want a casual relationship to sleep around… I just didn’t want…”

“Bonds?”

Scarlett sighed, “Yeah… when I approached him, I wasn’t in the best of places, and I didn’t need a boyfriend… I wanted fun, but I needed it to be… I needed it to be something I could control… Matt provided.”

“You don’t sound so sure,” Jaune observed.

“Cause I’m not,” Scarlett huffed.

“… You want a change?”

“… Don’t know,” Scarlett answered, “But what I want doesn’t matter; things are changing, and I need to deal with it.”

Jaune made a queer noise in the back of his throat, Scarlett shooting him a concerned look, but Jaune just snorted. “Perhaps I was incorrect; maybe it is not Ludus that needs to be considered,” Jaune suggested.

“Huh?”

“There are two loves, according to the scholars, that I would ask you to pay heed to, dear sister,” Jaune began taking Scarlett’s hand and holding it. “The first is one Pragma, the practical love.”

“Practical?”

“Yes, love based on duty, logic… obligation,” Jaune hissed at the end, something harsh skirting his features, making Scarlett tense. “It is a love that is in essence businesslike, where the practicality of the relationship is put before aspects such as romance or sex.”

“… Sounds shitty,” Scarlett declared.

“Perhaps, but it is a love all the same, one that puts the bond of the relationship above even the relationship itself… a logical love, a cold love,” Jaune finished.

“And the second?”

“Eros, the passionate love.”

“Sounds about right,” Scarlett quipped.

“Eros is the love of lovers, the love that is by its nature one of lust, romance, and naturally passion. The love felt for those who are sexually attracted to one another, for couples and spouses,” finished Jaune, giving his sister a pointed look.

“Sister,” Jaune prodded, “I think what we have here is a slight case of misinterpretation…”

Scarlett snorted, “Jaune… we are casual, Matt knows that, and I have never-“

“He hasn’t slept with anyone else either,” Jaune proclaimed.

“Wha- what! What do you mean?” Scarlett scrambled.

Jaune released his sister's hand and stood up, “I mean, dear sister, that I think you and Matt… need to have a conversation when we get back.”

“Jaune!”

“I am going for a swim,” Jaune declared, stepping off the towels and gifting his sister a knowing look.

“Jaune!” Scarlett tried to be angry but couldn't help a snort slipping out at the strangeness of her brother giving her relationship advice. “Y-you said there were eight!” Scarlett called after him.

“I have never really dealt with the other two, so I can't help you there,” Jaune shrugged before he took off at a jog.

“… Wait a minute… if he knows about the others?” Scarlett muttered before exploding off her towel and chasing after her brother. “Jaune! Who the hell have you been dating!”

Jaune cackled honestly, earnestly, his voice laced with unguarded mirth being carried back on the sea breeze.

“Jaune, I am serious! As your older sister, I demand you to tell me now!”

Scarlett would spend the rest of their time at the beach chasing her brother, her expression the most serious he had ever seen as she belted questions after his retreating form. She would never catch him, and Jaune would dance about her until she devolved into fits of laughter.

Scarlett would indeed do some thinking throughout the rest of their stay in Mistral, but her fretting, her nerves… both were settled thanks to her darling brother.

Jaune would also think back on this conversation, if only for the humour of it.

The last time he had discussed love…

“… Would you ever think to love me?”

Were that he had been as prepared then as he was now… maybe he could have provided her with a better answer.

Though he hadn’t meant to, and though Scarlett would not know… he had lied, unintentional as it was.

Jaune knew Mania.

He also knew Agape.

He loathed both.

YVYVYVYVY

Saphron finished her last lap, her breath coming hot and heavy as she walked about in a slow circle, stretching as she let her heart rate settle.

Her other sisters might be willing to embrace the vacation life entirely, but she couldn’t. Luckily, her aunt was cool enough to tell her that students were told to avoid training near the compound. She was grateful for this because she really didn’t feel like exercising around a bunch of superpowered teenagers.

Jaune had not halted his training either, though he had noticeably reduced it, seeing as both Cloud and Hella had done the same. Without his parents to help him, he was forced to relax as there were no other suitable sparring partners.

That didn’t mean he didn’t have other methods of training his combat ability.

“Yo, we late?” Jade called out, marching forward with a large white sports bag strapped over her shoulder.

“Late, it’s a vacation; the term late exists solely for catching flights; otherwise, that word might as well not exist,” Saphron remarked.

A sleepy Sky joined in yawning, “I wanted to watch… but why are we doing this early? It’s a vacation. Can’t you train in the afternoon?”

“If you get it done in the morning, you can spend the rest of your day relaxing,” Saphron explained.

“Scarlett usually trains in the afternoon,” Sky complained.

“Scarlett works weird hours, and it’s easier for her to work out before she wraps up her day,” Saphron replied.

“That and I refuse to show up to work all sweaty,” Scarlett said.

“Don’t you guys have like showers and bunks and stuff?”

“Yeah, but why use a public shower when I have our badass, super-powered ones,” Scarlett scoffed at Saphron.

She had to give it to her older sister, though; their showers were badass, and the water pressure was otherworldly. Not to mention, the bathtubs were giant, so you could quickly submerge yourself if you wanted to get clean in a more relaxing manner.

“Hey, what are you all doing here?” A new voice spoke up, causing Saphron to turn about and see a surprising face.

“Arslan? Hey, I thought students didn’t train on the compound grounds?” Saphron greeted but was quick to ask for clarification.

“We don’t… I am the exception; Master Hinata doesn’t like to use the public ones all the time,” Arslan explained. “What are you guys doing here?”

“Training,” Jade answered, placing her bag on a bench and prying it open. Not a second later, Jade was pulling on a pair of fingerless gloves and pulling out belts loaded with throwing knives.

“Wha-“

“Why can’t we do this with guns? I am way better with those,” Scarlett complained, grabbing a handful of the throwing knives and getting a feel for them.

“Cause mum hates it when we do that with Jaune, and she isn’t about to supervise… plus, this way, we can all join in,” Saphron remarked, picking up her blunted set and twirling it dexterously.

“… You just like knives 'cause you’re better at 'em,” Scarlett muttered piteously.

Saphron’s response was the legendary raspberry as she ignored her older siblings' complaints.

“Can I help?” Sky asked, moving over to the bag.

“I don’t know…” Jade mumbled, looking at her older siblings for their opinion.

“Nah, let her. They're just throwing knives, and they're blunted; it's fine,” Scarlett interjected.

Before Jade could reply, another voice said, “Just make sure you show her how to do it properly; best to start her off on the right foot.”

Arslan jumped, whipping about with her arms raised defensively; the Arc sisters all turned to regard her with amusement as they had long since gotten used to Jaune’s particular habit of moving silently.

“Hey bro, good run?” Saphron greeted, having long since learned that trying to keep up with Jaune was not worth it. Jaune managed to successfully keep up with his parents so long as they weren’t going full pelt.

“It was… though I may have startled some students by accident,” Jaune admitted, giving a half-shrug. “Hello, Arslan, how are you this morning,” Jaune greeted warmly, the girl in question going ramrod straight.

“Ah, um… I am doing good, thank you for asking. How are you?” Arslan replied extremely formally, even bowing towards him.

“I am doing well, if I may enquire, why are you here?” Jaune asked.

“Ah, this is where Master Hinata and I train… she just isn't here…” Arslan explained, looking about her countenance shifting to one of exasperation.

Jaune nodded, “that tracks; after all, it was her who told us about this particular training ground.”

At that moment, Arslan’s expression shifted again into one of annoyance as she let slip a sigh that sounded suspiciously like ‘of course she did.’

“Well, if we are in your way, we can happily move; it would not do for us to interfere with your training regime, seeing as you are an actual student of this academy,” Jaune considered.

“No, that’s alright; I was going to wind up waiting pretty much just doing some light work while I wait… but if you don’t mind me asking, what exactly are you all going to be doing? Are you going to spar?”

Jade let slip a loud, amused “Ha!” before chuckling.

“We wouldn’t even be a challenge for our baby bro,” Scarlett admitted.

“Even if we all ganged up on him,” Saphron shook her head.

“… So then… why the weapons?” Arslan pried, peering at the assortment of throwing knives.

“Evasion practice,” Sky cheered, “And I get to help!”

“Listen to Saphron while she teaches you; you want to win, don’t you?” Jaune instructed, giving her a gentle pat as he smiled at the youngest of his sisters who were present.

“Okie dokie, I am going to nail you!”

“That’s the spirit,” Jade encouraged, an evil smile on her face as she began to flip one of her knives in her grasp.

“… Evasion… wait, you don’t mean-“

“Yep, we hurl knives at Jaune, and whoever hits him wins!” Saphron shrugged, grabbing her own set and strapping a belt about her waist.

Jaune smiled at his siblings, “And I thank you all for your help.”

Arslan slid up beside Jaune and, in a low voice, spoke, “Is this seriously how you train?”

Jaune regarded her with his usual placid expression, “Well, not usually.”

“Oh!” Arslan exclaimed, relaxing somewhat.

“Suck that excitement back in; he meant this is his light training,” Scarlett piped up, killing all of Arslan’s hopes.

“Huh?”

Jade decided to be the one to give her the rundown, “Jaune’s usual combat training consists of him throwing himself at our parents and another Huntsman until he is either too exhausted to move or they have sufficiently stomped him into the dirt hard enough that our dad calls for a ceasefire.”

“That’s not all I do,” Jaune argued.

“No, to be fair, it's not, but…”

Saphron hoped in laughter in her voice, “The other stuff you do isn't better, familiarising yourself with the numerous weapons we have at home, the constant drilling, the times you disappear out into the wilds to go hunting-“

“Wrestling, Rammus,” Sky chipped in while Saphron showed her how to hold the knives.

“Rammus?” Arslan wondered aloud.

“A giant bloody deer with Aura that Jaune argues with constantly,” Scarlett explained helpfully.

“They’re friends,” Sky nodded.

“No, we’re not,” Jaune quickly corrected, his tone exceptionally dry.

“They are,” Sky whispered loudly.

“But the best training of all is the one that lets us all practice as well!” Saphron proclaimed loudly, annoyed at being cut off. “Aka evasion training, where we have full reign to throw stuff at Jaune.”

“It was his idea, by the way,” Jade snarks, poking her brother in the abdomen.

“Tis true,” said brother agreed with a shrug.

“… The hell are you made of?” Arslan pondered quietly.

“Wanna join in?” Scarlett proffered, holding out a handful of blunted throwing knives to a startled Arslan.

“Pardon?”

“Do you want to help us? Believe me, Jaune is not easy to hit; if anything, you helping us might allow us to give him a challenge…” Scarlett admitted, shooting her brother a judging glance.

Arslan’s brain was still playing catch up as she hesitantly took the throwing weapons from Scarlett’s outstretched hand. They were blunted, as she said, but otherwise, they felt good in her grip, hefty and well-balanced.

“… I have recently trained with a rope dart, but… I admit I haven’t thrown knives since I was… a lot younger,” Arslan spoke, checking the heft of a single knife.

“Eh, I can relate; technically, I have trained with a Dao, but I don’t think I have touched one since… shit, at least before puberty,” Scarlett reminisced.

“Oh cool… Wait, so you girls are trained?” Arslan enquired.

“Well, yeah, of course we are,” Jade interjected, moving over from her bag. “Just because we aren’t all as weirdly gifted as Jaune, no offence, bro-“

“None taken,” Jaune smiled.

“- Doesn’t mean Ma doesn’t put us through our paces,” Jade finished.

Arslan looked at them all, “But… but none of you want to be Huntsman?”

“Nope.”

“Not in the slightest.”

“I prefer my art.”

“There are less painful ways to become famous.”

Arslan mulled this over for a moment, “So you train because…?”

“Because if a big hulking soulless abomination drops in front of me, I like knowing that I can chuck a knife at it with some competency before I haul ass,” Jade sniffed.

“It helps to be armed in negotiations,” Scarlett snickered.

“I like shooting,” Saphron shrugged.

“I like the idea of being able to protect myself,” Sky added cheerily.

“Huh,” Arslan breathed, “Well then… that’s pretty cool… any of you any good at hand-to-hand?” She looked about the gathered Arcs, wondering if she might have a chance to spar with them.

“Nope,” Scarlett shot her down, “well, not no, but all of our training was more based on the premise of going up against Grimm, so most of us sisters are more focused on firearms, but we can handle a handful of weapons.”

“Not much point punching a Grimm unless you got Aura… or your Jaune,” Jade sighed.

“To be fair… she is younger, but Jade might be the best of us sisters… at least… what do you think Jaune?” Saphron spoke, earning her an embarrassed, flustered noise from Jade.

“That sounds about right; she spends more time practising, though,” Jaune contemplated.

Arslan became very curious upon hearing that; she had gotten to see Jaune fight first-hand, and to say he was talented was an understatement. How good was his younger sister for him to compliment her in such a manner?

“Right enough talking!” Scarlett suddenly announced, clapping her hands. “You dragged me out of bed for this, so let's get it going. Jaune, pick a route so we can set it up.

Though they put up a good fight, Jaune once again proved that he was in a league of his own, consistently avoiding every knife as he darted through the pre-determined route he and his sisters agreed to.

It was a showcase of dexterity and acrobatics as he vaulted and rolled, all while avoiding projectiles hurled at him with an impressive degree of accuracy. Arslan realised very quickly that the girls could back up their talk as Saphron and Jade began to work in tandem to harass and attempt to shepherd him.

Scarlett, though less accurate, was quick to capitalise on her sister’s efforts and would try and box Jaune in.

Sky, as she was still getting her bearings, would hurl her knife at her brother as best she could but showed considerable tactical awareness by only doing so in line with her sisters. Arslan found that it wasn’t hard to match their tempo, and though she was out of practice, hand-eye coordination was not something she lacked.

Which only made it more frustrating when Jaune avoided them all.

Jaune’s movements were insane; he could switch from fluid to sporadic in a blink and had no issue using his obscene flexibility. At one point, he nearly folded himself in half mid-vault to avoid a hail of knives before resuming his dash.

This didn’t bother the Arc girls, though; no, instead, they pulled Arslan into a huddle and began to formulate plans. They would go again and again… Saphron led the charge as she would taunt her baby brother, her knives landing the closest. At one point, they finally managed to make Jaune parry one of the knives tossed by Saphron, and Arslan found herself cheering along with the sisters.

When Hinata showed up looking for Arslan, she had no idea what Jaune had done to piss off Arslan and his sisters enough to have them hurling knives at him with smiles on their faces…but she couldn’t deny that the boy could move.

YVYVYVYVY

Sky Arc loved her big brother.

Sky Arc was also aware enough to admit that her brother had a tendency to scare people.

‘Unnerve’ was the term their mother used, and ‘intimidate’ was the word their father used. She liked Orr’s word the best; she said Jaune tended to ‘unsettle’ people.

This was the nicest sounding of the bunch.

Joon clearly had yet to ‘settle’ as she moved about the store timidly, constantly glancing wearily at Jaune when she had to move past him. Jaune didn’t pay her any mind in comparison, his own interest elsewhere.

Sky tried to glance to where he was looking, but Mai was quick to hold her cheek steady, “No moving, sweetie, just wait a moment, all right?”

“Sorry,” Sky apologised earnestly, stilling herself. Mai correcting her had also drawn her brother’s attention, which meant she wouldn’t be able to see what he kept looking at.

“Do you need something, Sky?” Jaune asked, rising from his seat and moving to her side.

Sky shook her head, “No, I’m ok… I just wanted to see what you were looking at?”

“Me…” Jaune straightened and stepped back as Mai moved in front of him. “Oh… just a piece of headwear.”

“Headwear?” Mai whispered quietly.

“Do not worry about it; I was merely… lost in thought,” Jaune excused.

However, Mai wasn’t willing to leave the matter alone and walked over to where she had spotted the boy looking. She had to climb a step ladder to find it, but when she did, she couldn’t help becoming even more curious about why this would attract his attention.

“A bonnet?” Mai uttered, confusion apparent in her tone of voice.

“A what?” Jade asked, leaning back as far as she felt safe, trying to spot the item in question.

“It’s an old piece of headwear that’s been out of fashion since before the Great War… a bit before it actually…” Mai explained, turning to face the male Arc. “I must admit this is not what I expected to capture your attention.”

The sound of the shop's door creaking as it opened alerted them to the return of the other Arc sisters. Scarlett had gone to retrieve food for them all, seeing as she didn’t want to impose on Joon too heavily.

“We’re back!” Saphron sang as she swayed into the room carrying baskets of food.

“I got the drinks,” Jade announced, happily holding a rainbow assortment of multiple iced teas.

“She got the lot, so grab your favourite and don’t fret. We have more,” Scarlett sighed, walking in, holding one basket and another tray of drinks.

“… Girls, not that I don’t appreciate the effort, but don’t you think you went slightly overboard?” Mai spoke up, looking at the spread the girls had returned with.

At once all three sisters just pointed to Jaune, who merely cocked his head to the side.

“… I hope you are correct,” Mai hummed, plucking herself a mochi-flavoured iced tea. “Joon tables,” Mai ordered the young girl, scampering to retrieve small coffee tables for the Arcs to lay out their food.

“Now, little miss, I am sorry, but you must hold on just a little longer. I’m nearly done, and then we can start having some real fun,” Mai explained to Sky.

Sky nodded, though her eyes did dart to the iced tea with a powerful longing.

“Watchu got there, Mai?” Saphron asked, seeing the bonnet in the older woman’s grasp.

“Oh, your brother kept glancing at this, and I got curious,” Mai shrugged, handing the piece to Saphron.

“… A bonnet… it’s a bit small, though, isn’t it?” Saphron pondered, turning the item over in her grasp.

“Oh, that’s because it was made for-“

“A doll,” Jaune cut in his eyes, glued to the bonnet unblinkingly.

Joon chose this moment to shuffle behind Scarlett, using her as a shield from her creepy younger brother.

“Y-yeah…” Mai mumbled, glancing worriedly at Jaune.

Jade, seeing Jaune acting so strange, was quick to walk up with a cup of iced tea and shove the straw in his mouth. This managed to break him from his stupor; Jaune took the drink from his mouth and blinked slowly.

“… Thank you,” Jaune said appreciatively to his young sibling.

“No worries, that bonnet got you messed up… how come?” Jade interrogated, slurping on her iced tea.

“… It reminded me of a story,” Jaune surrendered without much preamble, rolling his head a bit.

“Oh, another Jaune story, huh,” Saphron exclaimed curiously, leaning back in her seat and munching down on some of their recently purchased spoils. “Do tell.”

“I’m game… it’s not a sad one, right?” Scarlett asked as an afterthought.

“Aren’t they all?”

“No, some are just creepy,” Scarlett rebuffed Saphron, both girls looking Jaune’s way expectantly.

“… I don’t believe this one to go either way,” Jaune declared.

“Oh?”

“Really?”

“Well, now you have to tell us,” Jade snorted.

“Please… I could use a distraction,“ Sky admitted, still unable to move.

Jaune gave the room a once over and noted that even Mai looked on curiously. “… All right then, so long as everyone is curious.”

“Is this a Valean story?” Mai asked.

“No, this is a Jaune story,” Jade corrected, her eyes awash with intrigue. Ever since her brother had told her that the symbols in his journal were related to stories, she had become even more interested in them.

Which was saying something as she used to bother Jaune to tell her stories all the time when she was younger.

“Pardon?”

“Just listen,” Jade instructed, nodding for her brother to begin.

“… Right… Once upon a time-“

“How original,” Joon commented dryly, only to yelp as Jaune’s eyes darted to catch her in their azure gaze. “S-sorry…”

“… There was a Hunter who would wander out beneath the light of a dread moon to hunt monsters. This Hunter was savage, a killer of notable talent who would fight in a manner most brutal… he would hunt beneath that pale light over and over again…” Jaune intoned, his sisters noting the similar trend this held to Jaune’s other stories.

It was a fact that many of Jaune’s stories would feature Hunters, the moon and monsters. However, this wasn’t a unique trend, as many stories in Remnant could boast the same.

Jaune’s just felt… different.

“He would hunt until his clothes became stained in ichor and blood, he would fight until his weapons blunted and his guns ran empty, and he would kill until his muscles tore and his bones cracked. The Hunter knew no other way, and though his ability was without question, the toll it took could not be ignored,” Jaune describes painting a picture with his words of a rather grim setting.

“When he could hunt no more… the Hunter would return to his workshop. There, he would see to his weapons, treat them with great care and mend that which was broken. They were amongst his most stalwart companions, and aside from their comforting weight in his grasp… he was for the most part… alone,” Jaune continued, his tone bleak.

“Ah, so it is a cautionary tale then,” Mai chimed in, partaking of her tea and some of the snacks.

“What?” Joon whispered, half hidden behind her grandmother’s chair.

“Huntsman should not be left alone… never for too long,” Mai cautioned, “we have similar stories here in Mistral.”

Jaune looked to Mai, and a smile, a sharp, pointed thing, etched itself on his face, “truer words…” he breathed, nodding in agreement.

Mai was surprised by the boy's expression. She had not seen him appear so expressive up close. She wasn’t exactly sure how to feel about it, but she now perhaps could sympathise with her granddaughter a bit more.

The boy's smile was indeed unnerving.

Jaune sighed and dragged his hand through his blond hair, slicking it back as he sat up, “But the Hunter could only show such premier care for his weapons… it was he who suffered without reprieve. His body would heal, but pain left wear all its own. His mind would be given rest, but the strain would coil it tighter still…”

Jaune paused to sip his drink, the ocean breeze outside filling the store with the sound of its own structure moving. “… His soul was left uncleaned, slowly it gathered filth as he endured, unknowing of that which clung to him, that stained him.”

“I thought you said this one wasn’t sad… so far, this is pretty depressing, bro,” Scarlett admonished.

“Patience,” Jaune directed calmly, his hands gesturing for her to settle.

“Now where was I… The Hunter had not just forgone the care of himself; he had also left his attire to be ravaged by his work. Filth and grime, cuts and tears, burns and rips… the once respectable attire he had adorned himself in to mark him as a man of professional ability came to reflect his own state whether he knew so or not,” Jaune regaled the attentive audience.

Mai smiled, suddenly curious about the direction of the story; there were a few tales that would focus on clothes or those who make them. Her personal favourite had always been the one about a particularly foolish emperor.

“After a particularly savage clash, the Huntsman came back to the workshop only to find it occupied by a most curious resident,” Jaune went on something changing as he spoke, “See, the workshop he called his own was, in fact, not originally his but merely an abode he had stumbled upon. Its original owner had left behind many curiosities but none as intriguing… as an… ordinary doll,” Jaune chortled.

His audience was stunned, Mai and Joon, by the sudden shift in his mood, but his sisters were shocked at their brother's expressions. They were some of the few who were lucky enough to see Jaune smile on the regular and had even come to know the different sorts of smiles he could make.

This was a new one.

“Unsure of what he was seeing, the Hunter approached only for it to be revealed that the Doll had come to greet him!” Jaune revealed. “She was a sight to behold, undeniably beautiful, the work of a true master she greeted the Hunter. No longer was it only the Hunter’s weapons alone that were tended to in the workshop.”

Jaune ran his thumb across his fingers, his eyes closing as his smile remained.

Sky watched and could not help but think that her brother had a rather beautiful smile.

“His weary body did feel relief as the Doll’s concern settled his aching hurt. His mind did relent as his thoughts were granted a reprieve, the din of his battles dulled by her soft words,” Jaune expressed. “And perhaps… his soul found some manner to shed that which stained it with the Doll’s gentle presence.”

“As the Hunter would fortify his arms, so did she allow him to fortify his will, and soon, through her laborious efforts, did the Hunter’s garments mend. With his garments mended, the Hunter readied himself to depart again, the Doll seeing him off, her porcelain visage bowing as he made for his hunt once more… once more beneath the light of a dread moon.” Jaune whispered the last part, looking down now, unaware that his whole audience had been captivated by the degree of feeling Jaune was giving his words.

“It was there that he encountered… a moon-touched thing; its nature was abhorrent, its form twisted wickedly, and its wounds malicious beyond understanding. When the Hunter did finish his hunt, he returned to the workshop with eagerness in his step, wondering if the Doll would once more be there to greet him…” Jaune verbalised.

“Only she wasn’t?” Saphron took a wild guess.

“No, she was… he found her sitting by the garden, her form still, she neither rose to greet him nor reacted to his presence… an ordinarydoll once more,” Jaune hissed, as if in pain. “Oh, how the Hunter hurt, so far lost in that pain to think it all some bout of insanity that had ravaged him temporarily; he removed his garments and threw only a few rags across his form before taking to the hunt once more.”

Jaune sat up now, his mask of placidity returned, “he fought the monsters and screamed at the moon. He did not relent even as death itself came for him; he continued to howl and hunt. When even death relented, he collapsed, forced to drag himself back to the workshop, for he had no weapons to endure.”

Scarlett was giving him a very dry look as if to warn him that once more, he had claimed this story was not a sad one.

“… Hush… Upon the Hunter’s return, he found the doll gone; as if in mockery of his pain, the situation worsened. The Hunter trudged past where she had sat… into his workshop.” Jaune smiled and looked directly at Sky, who was pouting. “Upon entering, he was greeted once more by the gentle voice of the caring Doll, his clothes in hand as she spoke, ‘Welcome home, good hunter.’”

Jaune noticed that at least Sky smiled at his story, though his telling did not so enthuse the rest of the occupants.

“… So he went insane…” Scarlett huffed as she gave her brother a judging look.

“…” Jaune said nothing but did purse his lips at his elder sibling.

“No… Maybe it was just a magic doll,” Sky argued.

“… Okay, yeah, sure… maybe it was a magic doll,” Scarlett surrendered.

“Certainly would make it a happier story if we operate on the premise that the doll is magical,” Saphron snorted.

“… Indeed… perhaps it became ordinary because the Hunter's clothes were not damaged enough?” Jade added ponderously.

“Oh, I like that,” Mai added, “it only being about when it has a purpose, hence why when he returned in rags, it came back to life.”

“Hmm,” Jaune hummed noncommittally, instead focusing on food and drink.

“And… done, there you go, love, now please go hug your brother. I can feel his pouting from here,” Mai directed Sky.

Sky quickly followed Mai’s instructions, dashing over to Jaune and hurling herself at him; Jaune, ever ready, promptly scooped her up. Once she was suitably elevated, she patted her brother on the head just as he did to her so frequently. “I liked your story,” Sky comforted.

“Thank you,” Jaune smiled, leaning his head into her touch.

“Was the doll magic?” Sky asked.

“She was to the Hunter,” Jaune elaborated.

“Hm… ok.”

That particular session would soon draw to a close, but as they were leaving, Sky noticed that Jaune and Mai were having a conversation in Grandma’s language. When they were done, Mai handed Jaune a book.

Sky nodded her head at what she saw next.

Jaune might scare people… but he had a charming smile.

Sky Arc loved her big brother.

YVYVYVYVY

Himiko had been a woman of her word when next she had a day to spare; she came to retrieve Jaune. He had even hung back from his family to allow her the privacy he believed such an event deserved.

He also did not want to dampen the spirits of his family.

The Isle of Gold was not, in fact, a large island, so for the most part, bodies were not buried there. It was instead the norm to have burials at sea or, more commonly, cremations.

Himiko had denied both and claimed a sea stack off the easternmost coast for her use. It wasn't easy to get to, so much so that Himiko had to carry Jaune using Aura-powered jumps to get across in a timely manner.

Himiko had honestly been wondering how he would react to this part of the day but was soundly disappointed to discover that he didn’t mind at all. Himiko found him a little cumbersome, what with how tall he was, but he was very cooperative.

The area atop the sea stack was smooth, with a light smattering of green coating the rocks, but otherwise, it was relatively bare. Jaune immediately spotted that the centre of the stack was different to the rest, with the ground being softer and possessing cared-for grass. He pondered if this was natural or his grandmother’s work.

There laid three headstones; they were cylindrical in design and made of a glassy black material, inscribed with gold writing. They were protected from the elements by the slightly lower elevation, the rest of the stack serving as a shield.

The one on the left read ‘Ryōma Suchus, beloved husband. Until we dance again, my prince,’ Jaune saw the sunflowers atop it, a small bundle of varying ages, some withering, others still bright. Behind it was a small willow tree, meticulously cared for and just large enough that its bending frame could reach over the grave.

Jaune had read of bonsai; this was the first he had seen.

The next grave in the row, centred between the other two, read ‘Honoka Kutsuki, My daughter, my treasure. Our grief will never eclipse our love.’ There were numerous strips of deep red cloth, each tied about sections of the stone, but never over the epithet. Jaune gently caressed one; it was a message.

‘My daughter, how I miss you,’ was stitched into the length in gold thread.

There were many strips.

Jaune turned his attention to the last in the row, a grave he knew nothing about. It read, ‘Solus, a good man, a great father. In life a joy, in death the fondest of memories.’ Jaune looked to the ground and found neither flowers nor ribbons decorated his tomb.

Instead, Jaune found two sculptures, both flowers and easily recognisable. One a sunflower, the other a hellebore. In the centre was a sculpted cup.

Before he could ask, Himiko was next to him and pouring a pungent liquid into the cup; Jaune swiftly realised what the cup was for as Himiko struck a match and lit it.

“It’s prettier at night… he never was fond of the dark,” Himiko explained with a smile.

“… Aunt Hinata’s father… correct?” Jaune guessed.

“Yes… my last husband, Solus, he was… he was something else,” Himiko chuckled.

Jaune smiled; this was… this was good.

“I can never thank him enough for what he did… not just for giving me Hinata but all that he did for Hella,” Himiko sighed thoughtfully. “He loved those girls, and he tried so hard to be there for Hella… he did even better than me.”

“He sounds like a caring man,” Jaune commented.

Himiko snorted, “he was; I had to drag him away from the girls at times because he was neglecting his work.”

“Work?”

“He was a carpenter… he liked to make things, but he loved to fix things,” Himiko reminisced.

“… A good trait to have,” Jaune smiled.

“When he got sick, I flew him to Mistral, they couldn’t do anything, so I flew him to Atlas, they couldn’t do anything… so he told me he would do it himself,” Himiko laughed. “The doctors told him he would only have a couple of years… he squeezed out ten.”

Jaune looked at her with wide eyes.

“There is something to be said, grandson, about the strength of the good man; those doctors told him to give up and accept the inevitability of the matter. He spent the next decade doing everything he could to ensure that Hinata grew up happy and Hella knew he loved her.”

She brushed off his headstone.

“He was a good man, a good friend… but he was an amazing father,” Himiko proclaimed.

“… And what about you?” Jaune asked.

“To me, he was a wonderful oaf; I do have a type, ha!” Himiko boasted with a shaking head. “Ah… what a pair we made; thanks to him, people started waving to me on the streets. I was so startled that I confronted him at dinner, and he just lost it, laughing like a loon… I miss him.”

“I am glad you found someone you could love again, grandmother,” Jaune remarked.

“Mm… he was a surprise… Hinata was an even bigger one,” Himiko admitted, “I adored them both.”

The crashing waves at the base of the stack filled the air with a constant din of noise that made it impossible for there to be silence. About them, the salty breeze danced, afflicting them both with the aroma of the sea and sky.

“… I…”

“Ask your questions, Jaune; I will not be angry, not with you, my child,” Himiko encouraged.

“… You said you had been married three times,” Jaune stated.

“I was married after Ryōma and before Solus,” Himiko affirmed.

“… But he does not have a grave? Was he cremated?” Jaune questioned.

“No… he deserved neither,” Himiko explained calmly.

“… I see,” Jaune nodded, understanding the words his grandmother wasn’t saying.

Himiko moved behind Jaune, placing a sunflower atop the pile resting on Ryōma’s grave. “I do not like to speak of it, that man… that was not a happy period in my life,” Himiko reflects, her hands caressing her first husband's name gently.

“But… I would hate for you to draw an incorrect conclusion even more,” Himiko determined, “In simple terms, my second husband was not a good man; he wronged me, he harmed Hella, and he cost me my first daughter.”

Jaune saw the fury in her eyes, the grief it morphed into as she looked to the grave situated in the centre of the three. He could smell such hate, such fury, that his blood began to stir.

He could smell blood… old, spilt blood, clinging to his grandmother.

Blood that reeked of revenge.

“When I learned of her death… well… let us just say that I have my flaws and I have regrets, but what I did to that loathsome bastard was right,” Himiko breathed, a hand catching a red ribbon, the writing on it now visible.

‘If I could have only saved you,’ it painted a painful picture.

“Mistral has always prided itself on its histories and legacies… Jason was no different; he desired to see our child reach those great heights… only our child,” Himiko explained.

Jaune felt his blood move.

“His actions cost me a daughter and left scars on Hellebore that to this day might still haunt her… I was incensed, and though he tried to flee, the depths of his betrayal were revealed, and I made him pay,” Himiko breathed, tears flecking to the edges of her eyes.

“I engaged in such slaughter that I had to fell no less than nine Grimm on my return home; that was a dark period… the whole island endured a lot of pain due to his actions… the clan bled and… it was awful,” Himiko gulped.

Jaune waited as she gathered herself, sympathy stirring in his heart.

“… No, for what he did, he does not deserve a grave, and none grieved for him, none. I saw to it. I cast him into the sea, burnt all that he was and ever owned and… and… and then I tried, so, so hard to fix everything he broke… but… but he did more than I ever could,” Himiko gestured to Solus’s grave.

Jaune looked at the brazier, the small orange glow a beacon of warmth.

“A hero who helped me put… put everything back together,” Himiko praised, quickly wiping her eyes.

“… A good man,” Jaune nodded.

“A truly good man,” Himiko agreed.

They spent the rest of that first visit in respectful silence.

Jaune would come back to visit a few times.

He had never stopped feeling blessed to have returned to his family, and though he now felt grief, knowing that he had more gone as they were was welcome all the same. To have new people he could cherish, to hold in his heart even only as memories, was a splendid treasure that he would never not hold close.

On the day the Arc family would depart, Himiko would return to visit the graves as the sun set after seeing her daughter’s family off. To her surprise, she would find that she was not the first to visit the graves that day.

On the first grave, the grave of her first love, she found a single sunflower; it was a very pale yellow but healthy despite its curious colouring.

Tied about the second grave, the grave of her precious first daughter, who had been stolen from her, was a single yellow ribbon fluttering powerfully in the winds alongside all the red.

And before the third, the grave of the man who had blessed her with her third daughter and helped her put her life back together was an incense stick in a jar next to the lit brazier.

Himiko would first inspect that peculiar sunflower, her hand wrapping about the stem, where she found a strip of paper tied tight. With her thumb, she unrolled it and saw written, ‘for what could have been.’

Carefully, with shaking smiling lips, she grasped that fluttering yellow ribbon and found stitched in thread the same blue as her grandchildren’s eyes ‘Missed by a loving nephew.’

Tears leaked freely from her eyes now as she twisted the jar ever so slightly and saw printed on the side, ‘For my family, I thank you.’

Alone on that sea stack, Himiko did not need to hide her tears.

The whole island would see her smile as she returned home, and when she entered the house of the Kutsuki, she would seek out her daughter.

Hinata would not know why she was being hugged.

But she would return it all the same.

YVYVYVYVY

The day Jade was ready was not unique; it was just the day when she finally knew she was prepared to proceed.

She had been working on Jaune’s tattoos for a long time now. Jaune had been with her for most of it, and the designs were perfect. She knew so. The most perfect they could ever be. Jaune had agreed.

Nothing was scheduled for that day; all her family was merely sitting about in the dining area of the Kutsuki house when she entered. Her family were all starting their day, smiling, relaxed as they should be.

It was a vacation, after all.

But for her, it was more.

It was time.

“Jaune.”

Her brother looked at her, his Arc blue eyes blinking, alert, curious. The rest of her family also glanced her way, making Jade realise that perhaps she had been too loud.

Nerves played havoc with her guts.

She forced them down; she had no time for nerves.

“It’s time,” Jade announced.

Jaune understood immediately; his eyes widened, his lips thinning as he met her gaze. Jade would never not be able to stare at Jaune’s eyes; they were the only way she could ever get an honest read on him.

“Huh? Time? Time for what?” Sky asked.

“Jade sweetie, is everything ok?” Cloud asked.

“Yeah, dad… it… it's time for Jaune to get his Slayer Marks…” Jade announced.

Cloud reacted much like his son, only with a verbal component, “Oh… I see,” he nodded, looking surprised.

“Wait, so Jaune is getting his tats?” Scarlett asked, excited.

Jade nodded.

Jaune rose to stand, Lapis and Lazuli, whom he had been sat next to, looking up to watch him as he moved forward.

“Are you sure?” Jaune enquired, looking to where her hands were tightly grasped about the sketchbook that held all her work. All the designs, both accepted and rejected, the Mæli she had painstakingly translated.

The symbols from Jaune’s journal.

There were even later additions, such as a small amount of Eastern Mistrali that Jaune had taught her.

All of it perfect.

All of it ready.

Jade took a deep breath.

She nodded.

“I’m ready!”

A.N.

Right! The questions answered and hints made, but who cares about that…

It's time for Jaune to merge two aspects of his life irrevocably.

The marks of the Hunt etched in the essence of a Slayer!

Hahahahaha!

It's a bit of an episodic chapter, but I figured this was the best way to capture how different days might go during their time in Mistral. You know, like, not every day is going to be boom bang excitement, and writing a lazy day might be fun, but also, it’s a lazy day, so why would I?

Anyway, as I said before, I tried to answer some questions in this chapter, like Himiko’s past and how the girls were trained, so I hope I accomplished that.

Ah, the grave section exists because I didn’t want to fridge people. Like, I get it that people dying isn’t, you know, strange, but I don’t also don’t want to make light of the fact that people are who they are because of the past and the people in their lives.

Those people did matter; they are more than just their deaths, no matter how big an effect said death had on a character.

Basically, I want to avoid fridgeing as much as possible.

Until next time, everyone!