White Sheep

Chapter 7 - Taking the ram by the horns

Another week, another chapter, this one with a controversy I'm sure will get me hung by some, sigh.

Beta: College Fool

Cover Art: Kegi Springfield

Chapter 7 – Taking the ram by the horns

Jaune knew he was still getting used to the culture. He also knew there'd be some mistakes and things he didn't understand, and that at some points he'd need to curtail his usual responses to try and fit in better. He struggled with that, however, especially when it was time for their first history lesson and he couldn't quite pull off the same boredom everyone else seemed to exhibit.

History! Honest to goodness history, stories from the past of how the world was formed. Could there be anything more exciting? He bounced in his seat, aware of the rather shocked expression Weiss sent his way. "You seem... oddly motivated," she whispered.

"How can I not be? I've never been to a history class before!"

"How can you have never studied history before?" she asked, eyes narrowed. "Did you not go to school or something?"

Ah, crap - another mistake. He looked away in shame, and tried to be as honest as he could. "Not... not really. There weren't enough children to have any, after, well..." Well, after Salem called it quits after eight children, and Big Sis Cinder refused to help carry on the line.

It wasn't like there were any other fertile, child-bearing women around either- or rather, anyone stupid enough to entertain a thought of his sisters. But that was neither here nor there.

"My mother made sure the other adults taught me what she thought I'd need, but they didn't like to talk about the past much. They always told me it was better to focus on the future instead." A glorious future, they claimed, full of the politics and economics that would allow him to manipulate and control people and governments.

He looked back up, and saw Weiss staring at him with her mouth open. Noticing him watching her, Weiss shut her mouth and looked away, though she still shot him an odd look from the corner of her eye. For some reason, it almost looked sympathetic... pitying, even.

"Well... I suppose that's understandable," she whispered. "At least you have some enthusiasm, which is more than can be said for some people," she added with a glare towards Ruby. The younger girl didn't notice, too busy showing Pyrrha a doodle from her notebook. Pyrrha laughed at it, and that only seemed to irk Weiss all the more.

Why did uncle Watts only ever teach me to take advantage of things like this? Why didn't he ever teach me how to peacefully resolve them?"

"Probably because your mom didn't want a mediator," Remy guessed. "Fifty lien says your partner snaps and tries to kill the silver-eyed one."

"Remy, you don't even have any lien." Jaune paused for a second. "At least I hope you don't in there..."

He didn't take the bet, however... if only because he wasn't sure. Watts' lessons had always said that these things boiled over eventually. Power struggles were self-consuming beasts that would eat and eat until only one remained, at which point you could either manipulate that one to your goals or kill and replace them with a puppet. Jaune didn't have three puppets to hand, however, and even if he did, he wasn't sure he wanted a team of them.

Thankfully, the teacher's arrival put a stop to any murder being committed within the classroom. The man burst through the door and whizzed over to his desk with a speed that rivalled Ruby. A metal thermos slammed down onto the wood, the top pulled loose and filled with some hot beverage before the class had even stopped talking between themselves. He's fast, Jaune thought with a little surprise.