Lifestyle Choices (Professor Arc)

**"Lifestyle choices"** is the eighth chapter of *Professor Arc* published by Coeur Al'Aran on 2015 May 14 after *Awkward Circumstances* and before *Facing the music*.

## Background

"Lifestyle choices" was the first chapter for PA Coeur published since March 2015 as he experienced a two-month hiatus due to being in hospital. To compensate for the delay, Coeur wrote 144 pages for the June issue of his magazine, which resulted in further delays to literary publications.

## Plot

At around 9:30 PM, Jaune discovered Yang and Blake tearing apart his room and holding underwear belonging to Neopolitan, as the two were looking for one of Blake's books after it was unintentionally swapped with one of Jaune's psychology books. Jaune was exhausted after training and worried about the implications of Neo taking over his room until Yang's explained that the scene was not what it seemed. Jaune was confused, as Glynda Goodwitch did not think to explain what happened if people broke into one's office to look through their underwear, and assumed Yang and Blake had malicious intent. Jaune considered giving Yang and Blake detention with Glynda, but upon considering the game theory, realized that explaining it to her would delay his valuable sleeping time and potentially reveal his criminal status. Jaune opted to give Yang and Blake detention on Friday from 6 to 8 PM, much to the agreement of Blake and Yang. Before rediscovering the door, Yang thanked him for directions and left, much to Jaune's stress.

Blake chastised Yang for taunting Jaune and was shocked to realize Yang stole Neo's underwear. Yang commentated a range of options ranging from blackmail to inconvenience, of which the final option was her reasoning. Yang was fond of the adrenaline rush from nearly getting in trouble and kept playing with the underwear, with both Yang and Blake speculating its origins, ranging from sleeping with students to crossdressing. As Yang was daydreaming, Blake brought her down to Remnant by informing Yang that she could not share the details since they would get in trouble. Yang agreed with this assessment and considered how they would recover her book. Blake responded that they would have two hours on Friday to find it. Yang approved of this mindset and sought to prank Blake by inappropriate touching, and although Blake stood resilient, the two backed down after hearing Glynda express shock at the discovery. Upon demanding to known whose underwear it was, Blake informed Glynda that it was hers to satisfy Occam's razor and minimize complex explanations, but in response, Glynda chastised them for their inappropriate displays of public affection.

The next morning, Jaune awoke and attempted to venture for a morning shower, but was surprised to realize Neo was occupying the bathroom at the time. After Jaune left, he realized Neo was occupying *his* bathroom and attempted to enter to establish boundaries, only to receive bubbles in his face. After taking his cold shower, Jaune made his way to the staff room, where he talked with Professor Peter Port. Glynda was simultaneusly ranting at Ozpin regarding inappropriate behaviors, likely referring to her perception that Blake and Yang were engaging in exhibistionist activities. Ozpin then asked if Jaune had any visitors, to which Jaune affirmed that he did, yet was not sure how he helped. Ozpin replied that teenage minds were enigmas despite all of them being teenagers at some point. Peter highlighted, commenting that he was dramatic as a youth. Eventually, Jaune joined Bartholomew Oobleck as he lectured about the White Fang, in which Jaune started applying his knowledge of the White Fang to what Bart was discussing. Jaune also observed Velvet Scarlatina, an active victim of bullying by Cardin Winchester, and believed she would not visit for counseling. Jaune noted that while Cardin was the active agent involved in harrassing Faunus, other people did not come to Velvet's aid, which Jaune assumed was due to the bystander effect and conformism where the presense of others discourages individual intervention. Jaune eventually paid attention again, as Bart was discussing the modern militarism of the White Fang and the bigoted response to it. Cardin inquired why Faunus were allowed to attend if they would betray humans, much to the agreement and disagreement of some. Bart cleverly used this point to discuss the demand for sanctions, the final dicusion to dismiss it in favor of fighting Grimm, and how the White Fang benefit from fostering division. Cardin, intrigued by the idea, asked Yang if him discriminating her would help other girls convert to homosexuality. Yang threatened to attack Cardin for this suggestion, while Blake chose to hide her face behind a book. Bart skillfully dodged the situation by informing the class that Yang's sexual preferences were not relevant for the class.

Yang, embarassed by the situation, contemplated her life choices as Weiss Schnee berated them for being perverts. Yang blamed Jaune for this wrongdoing and planned to get revenge by any means necessary.

## Reflection

As Coeur left the audience off on a cliff-hanger when Jaune discovered Yang and Blake exploring his underwear drawer, he found it challenging to top it with comedy. Coeur's attitude towards the chapter was mixed, but looked forward for the next chapter, where he planned to write the combat training and apply humor. He also mentions that *One Good Turn Deserves Another* will be updated within the next week and that he is three chapters into the "new story", likely referring to *Staffroom Chronicles* which would be released in July of that year.

## References

1. ↑ **I was in Hospital for a bit, and work has been pretty much tragic on me lately.**
2. ↑ **Sorry for the delays on this chapter, I was in the hospital for a bit, and then work became complicated afterwards.**
3. ↑ **Like I said, that got delayed along with these for my hospital trip and work.**
4. ↑ **I've just finished writing 144 pages for our June issue of one magazine (in three days no less) which has my completed tired out. So keeping on track with the fanfiction had to fall aside.**
5. ↑ The black-haired girl looked a mixture between terrified and horrified, mortification mixing with fear to create an expression that was difficult to not laugh at. Her blonde partner-in-crime only looked nervous in comparison, though that expression deviated a little as her lilac eyes began inspecting the lacy underwear once more.
6. ↑ It was only like half-nine.
7. ↑ [Neo's] clothes taking over his drawers painted a much darker picture.
8. ↑ "I don't even know what it's supposed to look like." Jaune sighed out, not sure what he was meant to do in this kind of situation. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Glynda's notes on how to deal with students hadn't really covered young women breaking into your room and playing with your boxers. "Other than you breaking into my room for some nefarious purpose."
9. ↑ He could give a detention, he supposed? But then he would need to bring them to Glynda and explain what had happened to cause that. The problem was, he didn't really want to explain to Glynda that he had a bunch of young women in his bedroom… the sheer embarrassment aside, it would also drag his night on by a couple of hours – and after his earlier training and a full day of work, that was the last thing he needed.
10. ↑ Then there was the fact that what they had done could actually be considered criminal… it was one thing to sacrifice them to Glynda's tender mercy, but another to have to explain to the police what had happened… That might cause them to dig a little into his own past, and that way lay disaster.
11. ↑ "You're both in detention this Friday. Six until eight. My office."
12. ↑ "Thanks for the directions. See ya Friday Prof."
13. ↑ *She's going to be the death of me.*
14. ↑ "Yang!" Blake hissed angrily, as the two made their way down the corridors from the Professor's rooms. "Did you just *have* to get the last word in?"
15. ↑ "Yang, what the actual *fuck!?*" Blake hissed as Yang brought out the lacy underwear and started spinning it on one finger, enjoying the pattern of colours that span in the air. "Please explain to me why you took *that*."
16. ↑ "Black-mail? Amusement? Because it was in my hand and I couldn't exactly give it back to him? You pick." Truthfully it had been the latter. After he had basically offered to let them go without any serious punishment, she couldn't exactly walk up to him and hand him his frilly girl's underwear back, could she?
17. ↑ "Where's your sense of adventure Blake? Being so close, getting caught. The fear, the panic. The *excitement.*" Yang's eyes flashed red for a moment, before she controlled herself.
18. ↑ "So who do you think it belongs to?" Blake finally asked, her curiosity overcoming her irritation. Yang's smile widened at the interest, even as she performed a quick upwards toss and catch of the incriminating article.
19. ↑ "That's the million lien question isn't it? Has the Professor got a girl he's sneaking into Beacon for some alone time? Or is it a gift from an amorous student? Or is he *sleeping* with a student!? Or even better… is it *his!*" Her brain whirled at the myriad possibilities. So much to consider, so much she didn't know. It was painful.
20. ↑ *Whatever that secret is… God I hope he cross-dresses, that would be hilarious.*
21. ↑ "You realise you can't spread any knowledge of this around, right?" Blake interrupted, cutting into Yang's happy place. "If you so much as mention where you found that, we'll be in bigger trouble again."
22. ↑ "What are you talking about?" Blake drawled, stepping in front of Yang and crossing her arms with a tiny smirk on her lips. "We've got two hours this Friday in his office to find it."
23. ↑ "Why Blake, I do believe you're right." Yang laughed, before leaning forwards to place a teasing finger on Blake's neck. "If you keep taking advantage of the rules like this Blakey, I might have to *punish* you myself." Yang's grin widened as she trailed her finger down to the collarbone in an effort to see when her partner would panic and bolt. Blake stared back challengingly, her taunting gaze saying she wouldn't dare.
24. ↑ "My word!" A female voice gasped angrily from nearby, causing the two teens to jump apart in shock.
25. ↑ But what had they been supposed to do, caught in the hallways after curfew, Yang with a pair of frilly underwear in one hand, and her other trailing down towards Blake's breasts? Did they admit to Miss Goodwitch that they had broken into another person's rooms? When she had demanded to know whose underwear that was, Blake had said the most obvious thing.

*"Mine."*

Neither of them had really thought what kind of picture that painted. And of course, Glynda's loud telling-off, in the middle of the hallway - had been heard by plenty of students. Who had been only too happy to fuel the rumour mill.
26. ↑ Cold water was what he needed to wake up properly, slapping a few handfuls into his face as he let the steamy bathroom air warm him.
27. ↑ Taking a deep breath he roughly pushed the door open and stepped inside, intent on letting her know just what her boundaries were.

Just in time to receive a thick wad of soapy bubbles to the face.
28. ↑ "No hot water, had to have a cold shower." He mumbled back, letting out a defeated sigh.
29. ↑ "It's just not appropriate!" The blonde woman finally shouted out, apparently having had enough and storming away from the Headmaster, who simply shook his head in silent amusement, before making his way slowly over to them.
30. ↑ "Worry not, she simply came across something she would rather not have. Tell me Mr Arc, have you had any visitors yet in your new role?"
31. ↑ "I have." He admitted to the question. "Apparently I helped her, though I'm not sure how." He didn't really want to mention Pyrrha's name, unsure if he was supposed to keep it confidential or not.
32. ↑ "Sometimes it's the smallest things that can help Mr Arc. The difficulty we have is understanding the teenage mind. For all that we were teenagers ourselves once…"
33. ↑ "That's true!" Peter guffawed loudly. "Why I remember when I was a lad and a girl turned me down, it felt like the *worst* moment in my life! Looking back, it's hard to believe how dramatic I was!"
34. ↑ "Today class!" The green-haired man finally spoke, the exact moment that the final student had sat down. "We shall continue our discussion on recent history that has shaped prejudice, with a lesson on the recent change in approach of the faunus rights activists, commonly known as the *White Fang*."
35. ↑ Honestly, he considered, as Oobleck began his lecture. The White Fang had been pretty much unknown from where he had come from. Presumably too few residents in his home village to generate any interest from the extremist group. Of course there had been faunus there, and he supposed there had been those who discriminated against them too. But he'd go so far as to say the majority of people didn't really care.
36. ↑ Unbidden, his eyes trailed over to the bunny-eared member of team RVNN, Velvet Scarlatina. She hadn't made any move to approach him for counselling, and honestly he was beginning to think she wouldn't.
37. ↑ Beyond that though, the whole thing about most people being indifferent was probably what the problem was. When Cardin was bullying her, Jaune thought he could see plenty of people looking on in distaste. At *Cardin.* But they didn't act.
38. ↑ It was bystander behaviour. Something he'd read about in one of the psychology books. The mistaken assumption that somebody else would do something, so you didn't have to.
39. ↑ "-and that is why, recent incursions by the White Fang have begun to take on a more militaristic edge. Of course the ill-will aimed towards the White Fang has resulted in increased levels of discrimination against innocent faunus."
40. ↑ "Makes you wonder why we let faunus even attend schools for combat, if they're just going to turn traitor." Cardin butted in, grinning as a few people mumbled in agreement. From the corner of his eye, Jaune noticed the members of teams RWBY and RVNN looking particularly venomous.
41. ↑ "I will ignore that less-than-subtle racism in favour of you raising an interesting point Mr Winchester." Oobleck continued blithely. "While there were calls for sanctions against faunus in the name of `safety,` the idea was dismissed. Ultimately the Grimm remain a larger threat, and discrimination against faunus actually *supports* the White Fang – by making their recruitment easier. In fact, it might even be accurate to state that the White Fang benefit from increasing the hatred and racism *against* their own kind. Though of course they would never admit to that."
42. ↑ "Hey Yang, heard about you and your partner got caught in the halls by Goodwitch!"..."You think if I start discriminating against you, you can convert a few other girls?"
43. ↑ "Mr Winchester!" The teacher finally shouted, apparently tired with the interruption. "I have warned you once about discrimination in my class room. Miss Xiao-Long's sexual preferences are no concern of yours, or anyone else in this class."
44. ↑ "Mr Winchester!" The teacher finally shouted, apparently tired with the interruption. "I have warned you once about discrimination in my class room. Miss Xiao-Long's sexual preferences are no concern of yours, or anyone else in this class."
45. ↑ "I can't believe I'm stuck on team with a pair of perverts like you!" Weiss hissed from nearby, causing Ruby to blush, even as Blake's head sank lower into her book.
46. ↑ *Somehow, this is all your fault Arc! And I will have vengeance.*
47. ↑ **As for this chapter. I was a little meh on it, honestly it's hard to top what happened last chapter with Blake and Yang. Really hard to top that level of cliff-hanger goodness.**
48. ↑ **I honestly don't know on this chapter, like I said earlier. I hope you guys found it funny, but my feelings are mixed on it. We shall see.**
49. ↑ **One Good Turn should be updated early next week, and I am pleased to say I am three chapters into the new story.**