9 Days of Lancaster Day7: Marriage Pact
On a lovely afternoon in a tree upon a hilltop, Ruby overlooks the rolling acres of Patch and the many trees. Unbeknownst to her, Jaune also arrives under the tree seeking shelter from social interactions.
Ruby:Huh? Oh hey! Tactical retreat?
Ruby:Yeah. Sorry of the kids here are a little excitable. They love new faces.
Jaune:It’s all good. Honestly it’s every store clerk and homeowner that drained me.
Ruby:Ah, yes. They too are a bit excitable, hehe. Thanks for coming home with me though. With Weiss handling her own family affairs, I didn’t like the idea of making this trip back with Blake and Yang.
Jaune:Third wheeling isn’t that bad.
Ruby:Oh it’s not them specifically. I would’ve put in my headphones and called it a day. Yang is introducing Blake to dad, which means the entire town is basically getting introduced. It’s a whole thing.
Jaune:My town is like that. You buy an ice cream cone alone and expect everyone to somehow ask you “what flavor did you get?” Still, I would’ve thought you’d pick our trusted farm boy for this. He’d fit right in.
Ruby:That would definitely make this worse. I also don’t think he’s prepared for this kind of fire.
Ruby:Yang is the talk of the town in the best way possible. Everyone loves her. “Patch’s Own Sunlight” they call her. It was pretty common for neighbors to ask me if I was planning on doing sports like her, aiming for the same studies, attending the same school, and all that stuff. Not that she’s back and not single-
Jaune: “Have you found someone too?”
Ruby:I hate it? Free me from the interrogation!
Jaune:I can see how bringing a farm boy home would add fuel to that fire. Not to mention, having him discuss a hypothetical future in general is…
Ruby:Yeah, I’d feel absolutely guilty.
Jaune:Well I don’t know if this is going to make you feel better but Mee Ma Seal has already asked me all about you.
Ruby:Why are you already calling her that!?
Jaune:She’s very sweet and hard to say to. All smiles when I told her we met on the first day of school.
Ruby:*red* Soon all of Patch will be playing 20 questions.
Jaune:Hate to make things worse but are you sure bringing someone who looks vaguely like your dad was the best move? Given, y’know, your own striking resemblance to your mom.
Ruby:I was doomed from the start.
Ruby:*hops to the ground* Maaaaan! I really forgot about that aspect. Although I suppose it kinda makes things easier. I don’t really mind them coming to their own conclusions. Thinking I’m too shy to admit our relationship is better than the sympathy and concern of me being brutally single.
Jaune:I never thought you cared so much about this kind of thing.
Ruby:It’s a mixed bag. I do and don’t. I’ve never really considered myself lonely, but it’s hard not to think about the future when everyone seems to ask and show concern. To their credit, I am kinda hopeless with socializing with new people. It’s pretty flattering they think I’ve actually found someone who would date me to begin with.
Jaune:That’s…not a high bar to clear at all. If Beacon hadn’t gone the way it did, you’d easily have a dozen of admirers and a few confessions.
Ruby:Pfft, you make me sound like Neptune.
Jaune:I’m serious. You’re…amazing. Not to mention beautiful. Of course you could date someone.
Ruby:*blushes*Oh…umm, thanks? I never really thought that. Not that I’ve doubted my appearance or anything. I just…I dunno. Maybe I’m kinda used to Yang drawing that kind of attention. Even people in my class were fawning over her.
Jaune:Not exactly the same situation, but that’s how plenty of people were about a couple of my older sisters. Now if anyone is hopeless, it’s me.
Ruby:You had mothers in Atlas frothing at the mouth. Whatever insecurities you left your home with should be slain ten times over.
Jaune:Do those really count? They were being playful if anything. Not like anything serious happened. Not to mention I’m more than a little…dense at times. Hard to imagine me in a full blown relationship. Don’t even get me started on a future wife.
Ruby:Was that something on your mind?
Jaune:Well…yeah. I’ve kinda done being alone for life. Not fun. Even before that, I loved the idea of growing old with someone; being happy and sharing each other’s lives.
Ruby:It is romantic. If I’m being honest, relationships were never entirely out of my mind. I mean how could they be? When I see the way my dad talks about my mom, who wouldn’t want to have someone feel that way about them? Not sure how realistic it is though.
Jaune:We’re pretty young. Crazier things have happened to us in a shorter amount of time.
Ruby:Ugh, knowing us, that just means we’ll be far too busy! Yang lucked out with her partner having a crush. Meanwhile Weiss still pushing back on BFF!
Jaune:Nora and Ren might as well been a love story playing out right before our eyes. Though to be fair to them and your sister, it certainly cost quite to get this part of their lives.
Ruby:Maybe I’m selfish, but I don’t think I wanna give an arm and suffer more than I have. I don’t think a well deserved world peace would change that. I fear I’m stuck. I’ll be a kickass bridesmaids though. Not to brag but I’m built for cool aunt status.
Jaune:Well…if it really does feel hopeless one day, nothing stopping us from getting married.
The speed in which her head turned was a feat not even her semblance had achieved. Not only was she blushing like a fool, but he was too! It was like he surprised himself.
Jaune:I…It’s just that, it is an option, right?
Ruby:You’re…not wrong. Still, y-you’d marry me?
Jaune:Well…yeah. Why wouldn’t I? Like I said, you’re amazing. Not to mention my best friend. Though I guess that’s a little weird to say unprompted. Sorry, that was-
Ruby:No! It’s fine! I’d marry you t-
Ruby:…I-I would. Honest. We’ve come this far together. Plus I always thought we’d be in each other’s lives for as long as possible to begin with.
Jaune:In that case…how about twenty seven? If we’ve beaten Salem by then and haven’t found anyone else to fall for, then why kick the can down the road? We could…get married.
Ruby:Hmm…*looks away* that does sound promising. *whips around* But how would we even know we liked living together? We’d have to move in some place before that time comes.
Jaune:That’s smart. Living on your own is rough anyways. We could buy an apartment or something long before then. We could be roommates.
Ruby:We already hangout and share hobbies. Having dates to see how things go will be easy.
Jaune:You were always gonna meet my family at some point anyway. I’m meeting your dad today! It all adds up.
Ruby:Could I pick the wedding venue? I was playing it cool earlier but there is this nice lake and field near a chapel that looks right out of a book!
Jaune:We can get married wherever you want. A mountain lodge for a honeymoon in Anima in autumn for the colors.
Ruby:That sounds nice. Umm not to make this sound too serious or legit but uhhh, *red* you wouldn’t be expecting eight kids, right?
Ruby:Oh thank goodness!!!
Jaune:Ummm, would you…want any children in general?
Ruby:I mean….I…would give you one, if you’re asking.
The silence was louder than ever. Not a pale face between the two of them. They had to break eye contact; Ruby twirled with her hair while Jaune ruffled his.
Ruby:Super serious, ehehe.
Ruby:It’s all good. I…actually feel relieved. Although, we sorta jumped the gun.
Jaune:That’s putting it mildly.
Ruby:Haha, yeah. We jumped straight to kids. We glossed over kissing entirely. Forget marriage, that step comes before even getting a home. It’d be super awkward to be terrible at it when it matters most. I mean look at me; how would even r-
Jaune steps closer, moving right next to her, face to face. Even in the orange glow of dusk, the light did little to hide the redness of Ruby’s face; making her entire expression a breathtaking sunset.
Jaune:We could…figure it out now?
Ruby:*nods slowly* That makes sense.
To say she was scared to move was an understatement. And yet her hands did find his forearms. Ruby could tell oh anxious Jaune was, carefully waiting for signs to progress. In this moment, she did the only thing she could think of. Ruby closed her eyes and let her heels come off the ground. Either one second or eternity passed, but before Ruby could open her eyes again, a tingling and warm sensation spread across her lips. Its presence tried to fade away as quickly as it came, but small fingers squeezed two arms while a head proceeded to tilt further up. The warmth returned, persisting much longer and feeling more comfortable. Ruby’s heels eventually returned to the ground. Her eyes open to see the flushed face and half lidded gaze of the her first friend at Beacon; and now…first kiss.
Jaune:Ruby, can we… practice so more?
Yang:…Word on the street is you’re kissing Jaune under a tree.
Ruby:!? What the- NOBODY WAS THERE! HOW DOES THIS KEEP HAPPENING?!
Blake:*Passes water* Congratulations I guess?
Jaune:This town is truly terrifying.
Blake:If it makes you feel any better, I went to the store and they already knew my name.
Tai:Sooooo is there something you’d like to tell me?
Ruby:It’s nothing!! We were just practicing!
Tai:Practicing for what, some stage play we haven’t heard of.
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