A Common Criminal or Something

Summary: Jaune Arc was the descendant of heroes who never had an honest chance to be a Hunter. Jaune was just a common criminal.

Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY. It belongs to RoosterTeeth, and the memory of the master of computer animation. May your brainchild keep moving forward, Monty.

"When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw."

-Nelson Mandela

Jaune Arc never had an honest chance at becoming a Hunter at Beacon. Not really. Too weak (to earn the right by combat), too stupid (to earn a spot by scholarship), too poor (to afford tutors and training and equipment), too awkward (to convince anyone who mattered that he deserved the chance). No family to train him (back when they had the chance), no one else to support him (not after the plague that left him the last of his line).

Not having a chance, he made a choice. To compromise his morality- to pay a criminal to forge transcripts. A little white lie for a fresh start in life and in the city.

Was it the wrong choice? Most would say yes- but the 'why' would differ. Was it wrong because he compromised his morals, his integrity, to steal and opportunity he had not earned and did not deserve?

Or was it the wrong choice because it failed?

Jaune Arc was too much of too many things, including too gullible. Too careless, to have lost what money he had to a scam artist who promised forged transcripts. Too prideful to return to distant relatives in defeat. Too hungry and desperate to resist selling down hand-me-downs that others would recognize as relics and heirlooms.

Too pathetic indeed. So much so that the third-rate pawn shop owner offered pity.

"If you're that desperate for work, I know a guy who needs bodies willing to work without asking questions. You seem strong enough, and he's not looking for brains."

Jaune Arc ignored the insult and took the offer, choosing a full belly over saintly starvation and pretending he didn't know the path he was going down.

Author Notes:

Second of the 'Or Something' series, in which Jaune has a different path besides being a Hunter. The pieces start short, but will grow longer as his career progresses. This will be a significantly different style, tone, and scale than 'A Farmer or Something.'