Consider: An AU where RNJR encounter Neo on the way to Mistral. After a tense standoff, they convince her that Cinder is her true target and that Ruby shouldn't be blamed for Roman's death. She reluctantly allies with them and then starts to realize she and the blonde one have a surprising amount in common. Against all odds, they bond over their shared past, goals, and maybe even find comfort in each other when emotions run high
You are describing my perfect version of the best Silent Knight AU timeline. Neo was already on her vendetta on Cinder. And a quick explanation by Ruby that it was a Grimm that killed him would only strengthen her resolve. And make a nice new hatred towards Grimm in time to help RNJR fight the Nuckelavee.
Bonus points if Neo catches Jaune training alone in the woods and confronts him. After hearing him out, Neo suggests she help Jaune train late at night.
Then at Haven, I think Neo really could have helped Jaune break out of his fatalistic drive to fight Cinder. He was ready to kill her or be killed. But after Weiss gets hurt and Cinder escapes, I think Neo and Jaune would have AMPLE time to talk about their trauma and feelings.
Can you imagine RNJR meeting Neo again after Beacon and seeing her in her torn up clothes, damaged parasol, and bowler hat? And while everyone else gears up to fight her Jaune just stares at her hat while he holds onto Pyrrha’s sash???
I just finished my first of the spotify writing prompts and you might be VERY interested in when it takes place.
Perhaps we could get some fluffy Topaz?
Emerald: You know, I’ve been meaning to ask: why did you have a dress handy for the dance?
Jaune: *sweating nervously* O-oh, that… I ummm…
Emerald: *raising a brow, waiting*
Jaune: I… borrowed it. From my sister.
Emerald: Do you still have it?
Jaune: ….why?
Emerald: *smiling at him* I just want to see if it still fits.
-----------------------------------------------
Weiss: *walking into the room* Jaune, have you seen-
Jaune: *wearing an ill-fitting white dress, his pecs spilling out* W-Weiss!
Weiss: *hesitating* ...why are you wearing a dress?
Jaune: Emerald… wanted to see me in it again.
Emerald: *kissing Jaune’s cheek* I thought he looked cute in it.
Weiss: *walking out of the room* I’m just going to ask Nora if she’s seen Yang.
Jaune: *face beet red* Why does this always happen to me?
I feel like Winter probably lives off just field rations on missions and whatever the academy/base served while she was there. So if Jaune ever made her 'home-cooking' she'd just melt.
Sun: You spent our rent money, on Managerie hookers?
Neptune: They're not hookers. They're massage therapists.
Qrow: *scoffs* Yeah, they'll massage your junk for money.
Glynda: There's a word for that. I think it's "hooker".
Neptune: YOURE A HOOKER!!
The other Happy Huntresses, and Nora, find May and Jaune dozed off cuddling on the couch together with some sappy movie playing, how to they react?
robyn: *sigh*
joanna: should i wake them
robyn: no no just leave them
fiona: *star eyes* AAAAAAAAAAH
nora: i knew it was the haircut
Jaune spent all night playing and re-playing the RE8 demo, getting hyped up for tall vampire ladies. What does the sleep-deprived dolt do when the first person he sees in the morning is Elm?
Jaune: AAH TALL VAMPIRE MILF!
Elm: excuse me..
Jaune: sorry i just. Been playing this demo
Elm: oooh... so are you into tall women?
Jaune: um
That’s the real reason Raven had to leave Patch, she found out that she could get laid or get magical but both was too dangerous. She had to leave to avoid all Taiyang temptation and live in the woods.
How else do you think Salem had four kids one after another. None of them look like they’re the same age but they look really close in age.
Magic Chicks man, gotta be careful.
What if now hear me out on this one Jaune’s mom is the summer maiden
Jaune: Guys! This is a terrible idea!
Nora: Oh come on Jauney, it’s not that bad.
Ruby: Yeah! We just have to go visit your mom, ask her to open up vault down in Vacuo, grab the relic, and then we’re on our way to kicking Salem’s butt once and for all!
Jaune: *Twitches nervously* L-Like I said, terrible idea!
Weiss: What’s got you so agitated, Arc?
Yang: Yeah. You kinda look like Blake does when a new smut book is coming soon, but only she can’t get it fast enough. So her whole body does that funny twitchy thing from time to time.
Blake: *Shoots her friend an unimpressed glare*
Jaune: I... may have....not told my family we were coming?
Weiss: *Sighs and pulls out her phone* Well then give them a call. We don’t want to be rude and drop by unannounced. Besides, we’re almost there. I can almost see your hou-
Jaune: *Looking more and more distressed by the second*
Blake: Jaune. When’s the last time you talked to your mother?
Jaune: B-Before Beacon?
Weiss: S-So she doesn’t know about ANYTHING?! You never once thought to call her and tell her you were ok? Wether during school, the festival, or after the fall of Beacon!?
Jaune: N-No?!
Blake: Wow.
Yang: You are so dead.
Ruby: *Patting Jaune’s arm sympathetically* D-Dont worry, I’m sure it won’t be that ba-
*Ruby’s words came to an abrupt end when a flying, magic infused slipper, rocketed into Jaune’s face*
Juniper Arc: JAUNE ARC! Do you have any idea how worried sick I’ve been! To think that my own son, my baby boy, would sneak off and join a monster fighting school without so much as a word good bye!? To not hear from him for MONTHS! Not until the Vital Festival! And then to watch him fight for his life on NATIONAL TV, as waves and waves of grimms came for him and all his little friends! I was absolutely terrified! And do I get a single call afterwards to let me know if my son had survived? Do I? NO! I don’t! I don’t hear a single word from you. Not until your sister, Bless Saphron’s heart, takes pitty on your old lady of a mother and tells me that you are ok and healthy and on your way here. HERE!! Without so much as a TEXT from you! So?! What do you have to say for yourself young man!?
Jaune:
Ren: Uh, Mrs Arc?
Juniper: Juniper.
Pyrrha: Um, Miss Juniper. I.... I think- *Holds up a fluffy bunny slipper* I think your slipper knocked him out?
Juniper: *Sighs angrily* That boy, honestly! Can you all be a dear and drag my son’s sorry carcass back inside. I’ll whip you all up some hot food and drinks while we wait for Mr lazy bones to wake back up again. Come along girls.
*Yang and Nora shrug and carry Jaune towards the large house between the two of them*
(I loved this random idea very much! It’s was very creative and sporadic! 😁)
Good points on all fronts. A ton of people say Jaune should have a sidearm, but it just works better if it has an emotional meaning instead of just a practical one. It would be cute if Neo gave Jaune a little boot knife or something.
For Neo, if you were restarting it tomorrow, I’d say to just have her grab a spare cane of Roman’s, or spare parts? Have her rebuild it into a heavy derringer or flintlock thing, would suit her aesthetic more.
I have a question or rather a wish for a secondary weapon for jaune from volume 1 practically ... so if jaune and neo are together I couldn't teach him to use something like a dagger or a hidden weapon in his clothes something like the hidden dagger by assasincred (or whatever you type) or a pistol like the RK5 from COD
I agree Jaune could use some kind of variable attacks. Once I started writing for the characters, I realized how limited he can be. However, Jaune’s weapons have followed his character growth pretty well.
Vol 1-3, Jaune began with the hand-me-down that his great great grandfather used to ‘fight in the war’ because he didn’t go to a combat school to make his own weapon. He faked his way into Beacon. He had to fake his weapon too, and probably snagged the one thing on the wall he could use.
Vol 4-6, Jaune uses Miló and Akoūo to reinforce his shield and armor. The weapon can now become a longsword, focusing all of his defense into an offensive weapon. Why? Because he didn’t care about what happened to himself anymore, he cared about fighting Cinder again. He even says in the Vol 5 finale that his life didn’t matter anymore.
Vol 7-8, we see Jaune shift away from offense (after his talk at Pyrrha’s statue with her mother) and focus on leading his team and defense. His shield can now cover 3 people easily, the gravity dust can repel anyone who gets close, and the shield grenade can protect the people he cares about that he can’t reach in time.
If anything, I feel like Jaune might take Vine’s suggestion in extending his aura into his weapons. One possibility being what Qrow does. We saw in Vol 4 that Qrow can swing his sword at Tyrian and a building a dozen yards away loses its roof. And those gusts of air as Jaune swung his sword to Pyrrha’s videos might be the start of that
As for Neo There’s this scene in my fic where she and Jaune go to meet Lil’ Miss Malachite. In my original version, Neo buys an ice dust pistol from her, expecting to have to deal with Cinder’s fire attacks. While expanding her range considerably, it didn’t feel right for her character. I’ve been considering incorporating a dust launcher like Roman had to her repertoire but we’ll see what Atlas has in store for her
(Clingy Neo is high-tier)
Jaune: “I need to go watch my sister’s baby.”
Neo: *Signing* ‘But I’m baby.’
As with all Jaune ships, the baby-crazy starts when a girl sees him playing with Adrian.
Honestly, while I get people enjoy that trend for ships. I’d say it’s not so clear cut for Neo.
Neo sees Jaune with Adrian, and it doesn’t do too much. She adores that caring side of him, but whenever she sees him with Adrian, she gets frustrated that the attention is not on her. She’s always frustrated when the attention isn’t on her. She’s never really been big on kids and seeing him with one doesn’t make her jump at the thought of having one. They have a lot of time to live before she heavily considers that, but if she were ever to have them,(eventually) she would be very glad for him to be the father.
Jaune: Food in bed Nora?
Jaune: *Pulls out a ruler* That's a Paddlin'...
Nora: *Laying in bed eating chips* Hehe, Funyuns~
*Eats her chips*
I hate to argue, and give Ruby flashbacks, but who said Neo needs to hide in the military base?
Jaune seems twice as certain about the airship theft and that short, quiet girl who always keeps close to him looks like dustmas came early. Saphron is a lot more concerned all of a sudden.
Oh RWBYNRQO have to convince Jaune and Neo not to go full on Metal Gear on the Atlesian military and force them to settle on the plan involving Weiss sneaking Maria aboard. Neo explains that she also knows how to fly an airship, but Saphron and Terra don’t have any luggage big enough to hide her in. Neo beams ear to ear to find out she’s too tall to fit. Neo however does join the airship team during the Mech fight, and copilots for Maria (saving the ship from crashing when Maria’s eyes go out)