#[support: beowolf]

[swiftlance]

His silence speaks even louder than the way he flinches back. Frownin', she opens her mouth to offer her help, but he grabs her before she can.

"Eep!" The cry escapes before she can bite it back; not every day some guy starts tuggin' her every which way! Her own drink spills onto her wrist, cold water shockin' her enough that she now can see he's only leadin' her away from starin' eyes.

And if he does try somethin' funny, she can jab an elbow into his nose.

She immediately tucks her arm back against her side once he releases it, wary eyes followin' his movements. And then he's suddenly up close, touchin' her face all familiar like.

Nephenee tenses. The damp cloth feels cool 'gainst her rapidly heatin' skin, 'nd he only follows the shape of her lips. Can't be too angry with him for helpin' out like she asked.

Anyhow. It's a relief when he pulls away, givin' her more room ta breath. "It were an accident!" She exclaims, finally pushin' past the lump of embarrassment cloggin' her throat. "...No, I don't. Darn near fergot I were even wearin' this stuff."

Both his comment and accent register. She flushes at the former, relaxin' at the latter. "Yer from the country too, ain't ya? Oh, and thank ya."

[Water ]

She ain't much a fan of fancy drinks. Too rich for her blood, as they say. Simple things make her happy, which is why she's content sippin' her water.

The crystal glass is a bit much.

A faint smear of the sticky lipstick she'd swiped on for this evenin' remains on her glass when she pulls it away. No matter; she was growin' tired of the tacky feelin' anyhow.

Calil's voice floats through her head unbidden. Lessons on bein' a lady or some such, includin' a lady always looks her best. Nephenee assumes that means makin' sure her makeup remains intact.

She turns to the closest person at her shoulder. "'Scuse--excuse me. Does my lipstick look messy?"

When Beowolf turns to see, there's already a grin forming on his lips- he knows that any talk of lipstick would inevitably turn to a) how easy it would be to remove, a task at which he was always happy to oblige, or b) how kissable it made the wearer appear.

The answer to which, as before, Beowolf was always happy to oblige.

But the sight that awaits him nearly causes him to jump - and he does flinch at the awful smear, a twitch of his hand that sent a splash of champagne to the hem of his teeshirt - but to his credit, rather than laughing, or worse, lying and leaving it be, he tucks his hand into the crook of her elbow and tugs her away from the lights of the floor and nearer to a quieter table.

"Crusaders on high, lady, you made a right mess o'yerself, dincha?" Steering her to a place where prying eyes would not follow, he nabs a glass of fresh water and a linen napkin. Dabbing a corner into the water, he sets to work at the delicate task of fixing this stranger's makeup.

"There," he says when the shape is presentable, if he does say so himself. Cocking his head, he finally allows himself a laugh. "Don't gussy up much, do you? Not that a pretty lass like yerself'd need it, hey?"

[machiot]

@sayhwaet sent:

[ Gristonne ] - An energetic and aggressive dance from the Gristonne Kingdom, it mixes fast, rapid turns and decisive footwork, evoking the image of an aggressive soldier in the midst of combat going toe-to-toe with their foe. Not for the faint of heart.

"Ay, if it isn't the little terror! Y'havin' a good time, kiddo?" Recalled the girl from their time on Gronder field - how she'd had such difficulty for such a long time, and how it had eventually helped his team secure the victory.

"Gotten into any scuffles tonight?" A dance wasn't the same as battle, and it seemed like that was where she'd preferred to be - gently, he tapped her shoulder with his knuckles, lowering into a boxer's stance with a grin, then taptapped again.

"C'mon, now's yer chance - show me whatcha got, no holding back now, hear me?"

Marni's visible eye squints, then widens in recognition.

Marni lights up, wet dress temporarily forgotten, "Hey, you're the fun guy from the mock battle!"

The Firenese princess had spent the fight glowering at her (well, she did actually probably deserve that one) and the red-headed axe user had preferred to take potshots at her rather than fight her head on. Her own teammates had barely seemed interested in fighting at all, just healing, healing, healing.

But this guy! This guy's got her!

"I'm behaving tonight!" ...Mostly. "See, there's someone who I... Actually, never mind. It's complicated. Point is, there's someone I owe something to and she doesn't like fighting, so I'm trying not to cause trouble where she can see. If she can't see it, then she'll be reeeally proud of what a good job I'm doing, right?"

She smiles widely, girlishly, as if this is something to be proud of.

Moderation, however, is not Marni's middle name. Even without Beowolf's taunting, she would have still whaled on him and whale on him she does, rocketing her right fist at the man's shoulder. Her left fist taps his sternum, fortunately not at full force.

"Hahahaha! See, this is what I'm usually like! You just caught me on a bad day last time, got it?"

[pheraed]

[ Tangle ] - A curious, heavy blanket has been laid down in an out-of-the-way corner of the ball. On it are rows of circles, separated by color. Accompanying the mat is a wooden board with an arrow pinned to its center, and on this board: four quadrants, each with its own colors and separate labels: Right hand. Left foot. Right foot. Left hand. Supposedly, should you spin the arrow, you must place the respective body part on the matching color on the mat below. Easy, right? Now, add a few more people.

---

…How had it come to this?

How did they both get shanghaied onto this colorful blanket of dots?!

The reason Ares hadn't already left, on the other hand, was because his stubborn competitive streak trumped any sense of embarrassment about how silly this must have looked. That, and he now quite literally couldn't leave. Not without causing this whole knot of bodies he was tied up in to collapse.

Locked face-to-face with Eliwood as his contorted body wound up above the other's, he couldn't stop one of his black feather brooches from slipping loose and falling on the other's face.

A very clipped apology was the best he could get out while stuck in this state. Hopefully that got enough of the intent across, but it wasn't like these two didn't already have some experience with sharing a minor mishap.

How did Eliwood end up in this situation? He might have asked himself that question if he weren't too busy laughing at the absurdity of it all. He's having a great time, honestly, and it does not matter how or why he decided to join in on this game.

Eliwood almost sneezes as the black feather drops on his face. Instead, he giggles again. "Thank you," he says through his laughter. "I'll take this, and in exchange I think my pearls might look lovely with your parasol."

( normally jests are reserved for close friends, but you cannot get much closer than whatever this is. )

The image of Ares, his opponent on the battlefield just a few months ago, with a parasol and a string of pearls makes him giggle again. This time, he loses his balance and causes all of the bodies to fall to the floor.

[daeificatio]

It's just a rock man | m!byleth & beowolf

Come one, come all! A visiting merchant has brought with him an unusual challenge for those fancying themselves some of Garreg Mach’s strongest: a large boulder with the “Sword of Selection” protruding from its surface. Successfully draw the sword from the stone and prove yourself worthy of its might, he proclaims, though it soon becomes clear that this is easier said than done as many a would-be-hero tries and fails to pull the blade free. Some accuse it of being rigged, while others swear they’ll definitely succeed if given another chance. Bragging rights and a free sword sound pretty tempting despite this—will you give it a try? [Grants Sword +1]

Closed starter for @sayhwaet

He had heard of hundreds of tales such as this one. A nomad lifestyle exposed one to all sorts of folktales and legends- and in the world of mercenaries, legends involving magic weapons that can only be taken by a chosen individual were rather common. Most knew they were just legends, others would sometimes try to find said mythical weapon to claim it and add it to their accolades to make themselves into a more attractive sellsword to nobles’ eyes.

Byleth didn’t care because Byleth knew how to fight with anything, from sticks in the forest to the most high quality sword one could wish for. That- and because now, as he stood before the stone impaled by the ‘Sword of Selection’, he wondered why that legend even existed to begin with. That whoever got it out was deemed a hero or something.

“You can’t be a hero if all you do is pluck swords off rocks. That’s a smith’s job.” He worded it to nobody in particular, but out loud nonetheless. If the whole thing about this sword was that one had to take it out of the rock to claim it and its title and it was firmly planted there…why did nobody try to take the more convenient routes? He gave the stone a light kick, staring at the sword. It looked like any other sword, nothing in it catching his eye. Perhaps it would sell well at a market if sharpened, but aside from that it looked like a regular sword.

A muscular blond guy who looked a bit rough on the edges, not too different from the average mercenary the professor had come across countless times in his life. Byleth offered a diminute nod in acknowledgement before turning his gaze back to the sword, then to the rock. 

“Just break the rock and get the sword out. It’s just a rock.”

[yukyunotabibito]

The spinner rotates around between all other six men, rotating like the pointer in the centre until it reaches Nasir's hands once more. So far, they have at least enjoyed watching the antics of the others, from their far less precarious position upon their circle. At least they had not been unlucky enough to manage having to end up balancing on their head.

Nasir smirks gently as he flicks the spinner, though he can't hold back a small chuckle at the... dramatic tumble Lambert ends up taking. Hm. They wouldn't have pinned the strange lion-like man to be the type to clumsily fall out of the maneuver he was attempting.

"Ah, good," Nasir breathes a sigh of relief as the spinner lands on yet another leg. Though... the color...

They glance at their next target, a green circle a bit aways from them. Not far enough that it was a struggle, but it was certainly a bit of a stretch.

Balance roll: 19

See? Easy enough.

"Who's next? Our dear lord Sephiran; correct?" From their new position, a lengthy split, but luckily they had long legs to begin with, they smirk directly at the black haired man, "Best of luck. Don't fall now, my friend."

@thelightofcreation

DILF TWISTER

{ Ethereal Ball 2024 ~ Prompt: [ Tangle ] || The mat }

[dyinglikenarcissus]

I wanna be someone’s Grendel’s mother. Just curse generations of men and their land

[bridgyrose]

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose as she pushed Ruby’s scroll back to her. “People arent turning into grimm.” 

“Then explain this picture,” Ruby said as she took her scroll back. “I know exactly what I saw and I think that woman I was chasing has something to do with it.” 

“The same person you said that got away from you?” Penny asked. 

Weiss sighed and took a bite of her scone. “Ruby, we’re not saying you were seeing things but… think about what you’re saying. A thief ended up with paws like a beowolf. Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?” 

“I know how it sounds, but I know what I saw.” Ruby sighed and took a sip of her coffee. “Think about the grimm we fought today, screaming when we defeated them. Even Penny suggested that they might’ve been people too.” 

Penny shrugged, “I just think we should look at all the possibilities.” 

“I really wish you both would listen to yourselves.” Weiss took another sip of her own coffee and carefully placed the mug down. “If people could become grimm, dont you think criminals or bandits would exploit that? Besides, its only that: a rumor.” 

Ruby grumbled a bit and looked back to the picture she took on her scroll. The rumors had to be true, why else would the thief have grimm-like claws for hands? Still, she put her scroll into sleep mode and stashed it back into her pocket. “Fine, I’ll drop it.” 

“Thank you,” Weiss said with a smile. “Besides, we did agree this would be an outing to relax, not talk about missions or work. And I intend to do just that.” 

Ruby nodded and took a bite of her cake as she absentmindedly listened to Weiss and Penny talk about Atlas and going back to visit Winter. And while she did agree with the idea, her mind was still too focused on everything she saw earlier. The thief that had started to turn into a grimm, the woman on the rooftops, the rumors of people turning into grimm… there had to be something to it all. Though, she was never going to find out if she sat here all day.

“What do you think, Ruby?” Weiss asked. 

Ruby looked up at Weiss. “Think about what?” 

“You werent paying attention, were you?” 

“I am sure she has a lot on her mind,” Penny suggested. “Right Ruby?” 

“I was listening!” Ruby quickly answered. “I just didnt hear you is all.” 

Weiss sighed and shook her head. “I wanted to know what you thought about coming back to Atlas with me to attend a gala that Whitley is putting on.” 

“And your father? WIll he be there?” 

“Yes, and Winter.” 

“Then I’m not going-” 

“You need to go,” Penny interrupted. “Weiss is our girlfriend and we should support her.” 

“I know, but, I cant.” Ruby stood up and pushed her chair in. “You both can go, but I need to stick around here.” 

“Ruby-” 

“Let her go,” Weiss said. “She’s still upset about what father did to her.” 

Ruby walked out of the cafe and started down the street, eyes on the rooftops. As much as she’d like to support Weiss, she had other things to worry about. First, there were the rumors of people turning into grimm, then the woman she saw running along the rooftops. And to top it all off, the thief who had grimm paws. None of it made sense and she needed answers. 

She sighed and stopped as she came across the dust shop she liked to frequent, From Dust till Dawn. The same shop that managed to get her into Beacon early. Without it being robbed, she never would’ve met Weiss or Penny. And yet, ever since graduating, she never felt so far away from them. Maybe it was the difference in why they became huntresses or the pressures that came with defending humanity. 

“What do we have here? A huntress all alone without her team to back her up. Never thought I’d see the day.” 

Ruby turned around to see the woman she had chased earlier standing on a rooftop across the street. “What do you want?” 

“To give you a choice,” the woman said with a smirk. “Or to see if you have what it takes to really be a huntress.” 

“What do you mean-” Ruby’s words stopped as she watched the woman’s eyes burn with flames as she casually threw a fireball at a nearby building, engulfing it in flames. She pulled her scythe off her back, the end of the rifle pointed towards the woman. 

The woman let the flames in her eyes die down as her smile faded. “So, what’s it going to be? Chase me, or let a building burn and the White Fang take advantage of the situation?” 

All Ruby could do was watch the woman’s red dress as she started to walk off, frozen in place as she no longer knew what to do. Stop that woman from hurting others, or help put out the fire before it spread too far. And yet, she couldnt move as if she was stuck to the pavement, arms shaking as she lowered her rifle. 

Finally, she heard the sounds of sirens from down the road. Her feet allowed for her to move as she picked herself up with her semblance and made her way to the rooftop… only to see smoke where the woman had been and a single glass chess piece. 

Prev

[howlingday]

April fools: Jaune continuously gets prank by everyone in his team and Team RWBY. Even Pyrrha of all people joined the fun. It’s got to the point where Jaune called his Saphron and Terra to visit beacon to help prank them all in such an unexpected way. Terra would barge through Team JNPR’s dorm get the attention of Team RWBY in the process and demand Jaune pays for child support for his son Adrian.

How does everyone react to this?

FOOLISH ARC

Blake: Ruby, do you have any twos?

Ruby: Go fish.

Blake: ...Ruby, I've gone through the entire list of cards, and you've said, "Go fish" every time.

Ruby: I don't have any twos!

Weiss: Let me see your hand.

Ruby: No! That's cheating!

Weiss: It's not cheating if you're the one cheating!

Yang: Ruby, if you have a two, just hand it over. Don't be a-

FUCKING BASTARD!

Ruby: ...

Weiss: ...

Blake: ...

Yang: ...

JAUNE ARC, I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU DON'T OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR!

Yang: ...I'll get it. (Opens door) Uh, you good?

Terra: (Whirls around) No! I am not good! Not until I find Jaune Arc!

Yang: Uh, he's probably out with his team. I can call them if you want.

Terra: Are there any girls on his team?

Yang: Uh, yeah. Why?

Terra: (Kicks his door) KNOCKING UP MORE POOR GIRLS AND DITCHING THEM, JAUNE ARC?! I WILL FORCE-FEED YOUR COCK DOWN YOUR OWN FUCKING THROAT!

Yang: Graphic. Hey, uh, Weiss? Can you call... Ren and ask him where Jaune is?

Weiss: Uh, okay?

Terra: Is Ren another one of his girlfriends?

Yang: Uh, no, I don't think he is.

Weiss: I'm calling him now.

Yang: So, uh, how do you know Jaune?

Terra: He's the worst mistake of my life.

Yang: Uh... huh.

Terra: (Sighs) Sorry, I'm just really pissed off. (Extends hand) I'm Terra. I'm the mother of Jaune's baby.

Yang: ...I'm sorry, what?

Weiss: Yang, they're saying he disappeared into a hotel. There was a woman waiting for him at the door.

Yang: Uh-

Terra: Which hotel?!

Weiss: Uh, The Oracle?

Terra: (Runs off) I'M COMING FOR YOU, JAUNE ARC!

Weiss: Yang, what's going on?!

Yang: I'll explain it on the way there! Right now, we gotta go save Vomit Boy!

Ruby: What?! Why?!

Yang: No time, Ruby! We gotta go!

---------------------------------------------------

Terra: (At the front desk)

Yang: There she is!

Nora: Stop her!

Terra: STAY OUT OF MY WAY! (Sprints up the stairs)

Pyrrha: (Stops at the desk) I need you to call the police! That woman is going to assault my team leader!

Clerk: Um, okay?

Ruby: I got her! (Petal bursts up) Ma'am, please! Take a deep breath and- WHOA!

Terra: (Shoulder checks Ruby into a wall)

Ruby: Oogh...

Terra: (Stops at the door, Opens and enters)

Yang: CRAPCRAPCRAP! (Bangs on the door) MA'AM, OPEN UP!

Nora: Are we too late?!

Jaune: (Muffled) TERRA?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!

Terra: (Muffled) I'M GONNA MAKE YOU PAY, YOU BASTARD! YOU AND YOUR WHORE!

Saphron: (Screams)

Jaune: TERRA, PUT THE KNIFE DOWN!

Yang: (Nods to Nora)

Nora: (Readies shoulder)

Jaune: AAAAAAAAUGH!

Weiss: (Watches as the two knock it down, Steps inside) MA'AM, PUT THE KNIFE-! Huh?

Adrian: Pew! Pew! (Giggles)

Jaune: (Holding Adrian) Gotcha! (Chuckles)

Yang: Wh... What the hell?

Jaune: We got you guys good! Ha!

Blake: Wait, what's going on?

Jaune: You guys just got pranked.

Nora: WHAT?!

Yang: Dude, what the hell?!

Jaune: This is payback for pranking me these past few months.

Jaune: (Points to Ruby) The sugar shaker!

Ruby: What?!

Jaune: (Points to Weiss) The ice bucket!

Weiss: You spiteful-!

Jaune: (Points to Blake) The snare trap!

Blake: You were fine. Just hung upside down for a while.

Jaune: (Points to Nora) The depantsing!

Nora: Oh, come on! People call you Long Jaune now! I would kill for a nickname after my undies!

Jaune: (Points to Pyrrha) The tinfoil potato!

Pyrrha: Um, I'm sorry? I should have known tinfoil doesn't microwave well... or at all.

Jaune: (Points to Ren) The pond scum!

Ren: That was a protein shake. I didn't prank you.

Jaune: Oh... W-Well, there's still Yang, who pranked me harder than anyone else! (Lists off on his fingers) The Beowolf cake, the Cake Beowolf, the whoopie cushions, the warm water, the weighted bottle!

Yang: Yeah, but faking a homicidal baby momma?! Don't you think that's a bit extreme?!

Jaune: You made me eat bathroom grout, Yang! (Sniffs) Disguised as dinosaur chicken nuggets, too...

Adrian: (Pats Jaune's head)

Saphron: Jaune called me and told me everything, so my wife, Terra, and I came as soon as we could to help him prank back at the people who were tormenting my baby brother.

Jaune: I'm not a baby.

Yang: So this was all a big prank to get back at us?

Terra: Correct.

Nora: Ooooooh! Okay! That was pretty good!

Yang: Yeah, I'm kinda embarrassed I didn't see it sooner. I mean, there's no way Jaune has a baby with you.

Terra: ...

Saphron: ...

Jaune: ...

Adrian: ...

Yang: ...

Yang: ...HUH?!

[knightofgalatea]

There was no question that Ingrid was going to agree to lend her aid.

She’d already been receiving letters from her family, telling her about the scoundrels and ruffians running amok in her beloved home, terrorizing the people of Faerghus. Terrorizing her people.

There were many in the Kingdom that could hold their own, most children taught how to wield a sword, how to hold their own in battle, once they could walk. But the poorer villages couldn’t afford to keep up with regular training, nor could they afford to pay for new weapons even as their older ones decayed and crumbled to nothing.

She felt like she had been shattering for weeks now, fractures spreading from a stone lodged in the stained glass of her heart. So when the Church had asked that she help with repairs, she hadn’t hesitated before she had agreed.

Anxiety tightened like ivy snaking around her ribs, knotting in the spaces between her joints, threading between her muscles. Only once she and some of the other people the Church had sent had crossed the border into Faerghus did it begin to ease, and even then only barely.

Oh how her hands itched to take up her lance, to fit the familiar weapon over the calluses of her palms, to feel it weigh on her arms. She would have pushed back the thieves and outlaws alone, would have ripped them from the Kingdom with her bare hands.

But the Church hadn’t tasked her with fighting them off; they’d tasked her with helping to rebuild. To fix what was broken, to offer aid to the villagers that had been terrorized by these villains.

So repairing is what she would do, even if she was imagining herself chasing off the brigands with nothing but her lance, riding atop her pegasus.

When finally she set foot on Faerghan soil, some of the tension in her body began to loosen, unknot just enough for her to breathe. She had been told by one of the professors that there was a local knight who would be able to teach them some basic carpentry to aid in the rebuilding efforts, and she wanted to find this knight immediately.

Although, she surmised, it would likely be best if she went with someone else, so she did not get lost and so a few of them could learn the necessary skills and maybe pass them along.

She scanned the narrow street, eyes falling on a face she recognized, if only vaguely. Beowolf, a mercenary she was certain, who worked for the monastery.

“Hey!” She called, jogging to catch up to him. He was the first person she had recognized, and so he would be her companion as she searched for the knight who could teach them the skills they needed to help the village. “Come with me, we need to find a knight who can teach us carpentry!”

@sayhwaet

Restorations

[supersaiyanjedi14]

RWBY Versus Series: Adam Taurus vs. James Ironwood

"But fear itself isn't worthy of concern, it is who we become while in its clutches. Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them? Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them? Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start?"

PHYSICAL

At first glance, this seems like a very simple conclusion to reach.  While Adam Taurus certainly has James Ironwood beat in terms of physical health and wellness (blind in one eye vs. triple amputee with half your chest gone, one is decidedly worse), Ironwood’s alterations and implants more than make up for his poor condition.  Though originally a run of the mill homo sapian, James Ironwood is now more machine than man, with superhumanly strong prosthetic limbs and built in armor turning him into a veritable juggernaut.  As a Faunus, Adam may have anatomical traits that put him beyond your typical human by way of his horns and likely night vision, but these traits are either vestigial or useless on neutral ground, and his is otherwise just another squishy meatbag.  Ironwood’s superior anatomy carries directly over to physical performance levels, boasting physical strength that is light years beyond anything Adam could muster up.  Yes, carving through military-grade robots like they were nothing is a testament to a heavy hitter, but it really doesn’t compare to being able to manhandle a Beowolf with only one hand.  Ironwood’s superior might is further supported by his agility, bringing every ounce of his weight and might to his target every time.  Adam may be able to brace himself to deflect a flying Blake, but Ironwood doing the same would be far beyond his ability to handle.  While Adam’s performance against Yang Xiao Long proves that he can contend with physically stronger opponents, this is all he can do, and jockeying in an arm-wrestling contest with Ironwood is well beyond his capabilities.  Quite simply, Ironwood’s body is 50% metal and he’s all the more dangerous for it.

However, despite the General’s overwhelming physical might, this is not a one-sided contest, as his Faunus opponent boasts some critical physical advantages of his own.  Adam may not have any anatomical advantages he can leverage over Ironwood, but he does enjoy a significant age gap, at minimum 20 years.  Additionally, much like Cinder Fall, Adam’s impaired eyesight is not a gamebreaker, as he has never been seen suffering from a physical blind spot, owed to either Aura-enhanced senses or simple muscle memory.  In terms of athletic ability, Ironwood’s titanic strength is matched and countered by Adam’s mind-numbing speed.  Simply put, if Adam can keep pace with Blake, casually run laps around Yang, and demonstrate blatantly superior acrobatic ability, then Ironwood is going to have his work cut out for him.  Dexterity and reflex also go to the High Leader, demonstrating greater precision and control in his sword style than the General’s simple pistol whips.  Ironwood’s ability to match and arguably defeat Winter Schnee, to whom Adam is easily comparable, is proof that he can deal with speed demons, but as with Adam and his strength, that’s the limit.  He can contend with Adam’s speed, but he can’t actually match or surpass him.  As far as health and athleticism is concerned, Adam Taurus and James Ironwood demonstrate a balance of opposites.  Both are stronger in areas the other is, while certainly not weak, comparatively lesser in, and either getting the opportunity to leverage that superiority could affect the tide of the whole battle.  If Yang can overpower Adam, so can Ironwood.  If Winter can outpace/fence Ironwood, so can Adam.  Both have proven they can engage such opponents without being overmatched, so neither will be able to coast by on strength or speed alone in this fight.

This dynamic of opposing strengths and weaknesses carries over to their respective endurance and tolerances.  Once again, Ironwood’s cybernetics afford him a clear and distinct advantage over Adam, his natural armor and displays of physical hardiness allowing him to work through hits that would leave the High Leader a burned-out husk.  Getting back up after getting punched into a crater is great and all, but it’s not the same as literally burning the skin off of your own arm, and that’s before we consider that Adam’s last bits of Aura were taking most of the damage.  But on the other hand, it is worth noting that Ironwood’s superior displays have been the direct result of him allowing himself to take the hits even when he doesn’t have to.  Combined with his visible fatigue against the subversive Watts and his brief clashes with JNR and Winter, Ironwood’s survivability in the long term has a distinct cap.  Conversely, Adam’s final confrontation with Blake and Yang was anywhere from double to triple the length of Ironwood’s fight with Watts, during which he was executing his own intense energetic fighting style the entire time and facing opponents whose offensive pressure slaps anything Watts could muster up. Despite that, Adam still had enough energy to keep fighting unaffected after losing his Aura, and considering just how much punishment Blake and Yang had to subject him to in order to finally get him to that point, I would say that Adam has the stamina advantage by quite a significant margin.  Mental health and discipline follow a similar pattern.  Adam is the more unstable of the two, his violent outbursts being far more pronounced, whereas Ironwood’s military discipline leaves his composure far stronger to the point of apathy.  Yet Ironwood’s ruthless determination still compels him to take unnecessary risks, while Adam, be it by either cowardice or pragmatism, has shown a willingness to pace himself and cut his losses if need be.

As overall physical specimens, Adam Taurus and James Ironwood display a balance of major advantages and disadvantages over the other that match up extremely well.  Adam is younger, faster, more sustainable, and better at staying alive, while Ironwood is tougher, stronger, better equipped, and better at keeping his cool.  Both are well optimized to take advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses, and both are ruthless enough to fight to the death if need be.  As such, this verdict is determined by the severity of the disparities in their respective performances, and it is here where Ironwood’s enhancements give him a leg up.  Adam may have been able to contend with Yang Xiao Long’s greater strength and fortitude, but Ironwood is very likely stronger and tougher than Yang, making his advantage over the Faunus that much more substantial.  By contrast, Adam merely matches Winter Schnee’s agility, he does not surpass it, so his speed advantage is not enough to put the general too far out of his comfort zone.  Adam can potentially turn this dynamic around through skill at arms, but he cannot overcome Ironwood on the back of raw physicality.  To be clear, Ironwood still has an uphill battle ahead of him, as Adam’s own strengths and displays mean that he cannot afford to coast by on strength and endurance.  It must be remembered that Ironwood’s superiority is wholly in the fact that his cybernetics expanding the strength and durability gap wider than the speed and stamina gap, the latter of which are still eggs in Adam’s basket.  I will go so far as to say that if we were examining a hypothetical non-cyborg Ironwood, then Adam would sweep the edge on the back of his youth.  As it stands, however, Adam’s only hope lies in skill and power, and a battle of the body is Ironwood’s to lose.

James Ironwood gets the edge for Physical Ability and Equipment.

MARTIAL

Starting from the top with a comparison of their weaponry, both Adam Taurus and James Ironwood carry one standard firearm as part of their primary arsenal, their respective standard performances being more or less comparable.  Where the weapon sets diverge from this point demonstrate the differences in each warrior’s approach.  With Blush’s ability to shoot Wilt as a projectile, its use as a close-quarters bludgeon, and the versatility Wilt boasts as a sword, Adam’s arsenal provides a wider range of options in battle, which his fighting style fully leverages.  With the secondary explosive rounds of Due Process’s silver half and the gravity Dust in the black half, Ironwood boasts an array of distinct yet extremely powerful attack modes which he then layered on top of each other.  While both combatants have experience contending with each other’s outliers, meaning there is no significant gamebreakers, Adam’s more diverse arsenal and superior melee options do make him overall better armed.

Carrying over from the differences in their weapons, the combatants’ fighting styles are worlds apart yet have similar emphases.  Adam Taurus’s technique is a sophisticated yet vicious method designed to overwhelm his targets with sheer speed and ferocity, while turning away any retaliation by way of evasive maneuvers and active defense and counters.  Meanwhile, James Ironwood’s style is the manifestation of strength and power, leveraging his overwhelming might for maximum effect to pound his opposition into submission, relying on his fortitude to soak up anything the enemy brings to bear before responding in kind.  One relies on a refined core technique that blends his diverse skill set into a singular, high performance fighting style, and the other relies on a much simpler technique that allows him to dominate the combat through the direct application of power.  Both emphasize heavy offense as their first response, defending when needed when that fails before quickly regaining their momentum, in keeping with their mutual objective of dominating and controlling the engagement.  Furthermore, both have shown great success at landing counters on overly aggressive opponents, while they themselves have both overextended when facing defensive opponents.  While I do consider Adam’s guerilla assassin style as more refined than Ironwood’s gritty boxing style, the skill gap is not substantial.  Between Adam’s repeated victories over Blake Belladonna and parity with Yang Xiao Long versus Ironwood overpowering Arthur Watts and fighting evenly with Winter Schnee, their developed skill levels are more or less on par.  Technical sophistication will not be enough to allow the Faunus to simply outfence the general, especially given how Ironwood’s power is something that Adam has come up short against in the past.  To be fair, though, the same can be said of Ironwood, as evasive duelists are well-optimized for staying out of his crosshairs.  Experience-wise, Ironwood certainly has a significant edge over Adam by way of his greater years, affording him training and fighting time that Adam simply didn’t live long enough to accumulate.  That being said, the value of Ironwood’s experience is undercut by the fact that he has spent the better part of his career behind a desk rather than on the battlefield, whereas nearly all of Adam’s comparatively shorter career was spent fighting, leading White Fang raids practically every other Tuesday.

With their skill sets and skill levels so closely matched, the most relevant factor in this verdict is going to be their respective tactical sensibilities, ironic given their mutual legacy of disastrous decision making.  Both Adam and Ironwood are ruthlessly domineering fighters whose primary strategies center around asserting their control over the situation, their differing methods being paths to roughly the same destination.  Adam’s strategy of active defense and counter allows him to turn any attack back on his opponent while he rushes in to eviscerate the target before they have time to recover, preventing his target from bringing their full might to bear against him.  Meanwhile, Ironwood’s approach of enduring and powering through allows him to blunt any spearthrust against him before coming crashing against the opponent’s guard with more force than most are reasonably prepared for.  Both frequently open as the aggressor, moving to overwhelm the enemy directly while refusing to give an inch of ground.  Failing that, though they don’t like doing so, both are able and willing to fall back on defense to wait for an opportunity to counterattack.  Due to his overwhelming offensive might, Ironwood would certainly dominate in a head-to-head engagement, bullying through Adam’s more refined technique with brute strength and pounding him into submission.  However, I do not believe that Adam would fall into this trap.  As a guerilla fighter, Adam has consistently been in a position where he does not have the strength to meet his opponents head-to-head.  Instead, he opted to use that strength against the opponent, taking advantage of their overextended attacks to rush in, get inside their guard, and cut them down, or simply relying on his Semblance to use their own energies against them.  Yang proved that the best way to defeat Adam is to play defense rather than offense, denying him the openings he needs to exploit, forcing him to come to you, and ultimately using his own tactics against him.  This is simply something Ironwood doesn’t do.  Whether barefisted or guns-ablazing, Ironwood is an offensive dervish, charging in and attempting to overpower his opponent directly with overwhelming might.  On the one hand, this makes Ironwood extremely vulnerable to Adam’s counters, as he will be forced to chase after the Faunus and meet him on his own terms.  But on the other hand, Ironwood’s sheer output is beyond anything Adam has encountered beforehand, meaning that if the general is able to get his adversary between a rock and a hard place, Adam could get into trouble very quickly.

As such, this is going to hinge heavily on Adam’s ability to contend with Ironwood’s offensive.  The practical benefits of Ironwood’s simpler, stronger fighting style are best expressed in a close-quarters engagement; as with Winter, Adam’s refined swordplay will merely allow him to contend in a pure hand-to-hand brawl.  However, Ironwood’s weapons of choice are firearms, meaning that he is just as likely, if not more so, to open with gunplay to strike his opponent at range.  Therefore, the big question is this; can Adam Taurus reliably defend himself against James Ironwood’s primary forms of attack?  Yes, he can.  Guns are exactly what he built his defensive technique to address, and advancing vanguards are exactly what his hit-and-run tactics are meant to subvert.  If he can deflect a firing squad’s worth of rifle fire, he can keep pace with Ironwood’s trigger speed.  And if he can endure Yang’s machine gun punching spree long enough to find an opening to evade, he can certainly work his way around Ironwood’s more sluggish advance.  Furthermore, Adam’s own marksmanship and unarmed skill, while outclassed by Ironwood’s, will still be adequate to interfere with the general and wear him down, whether by interfering with his focus in his normal state or chipping away at his Aura when he’s going full Mettle.  Where Winter was trying to whittle him down with precise cuts, Adam would be tearing into his exposed flank.  However, this isn’t to say that Adam will simply be able to dance circles around Ironwood and slice him to ribbons.  We’d still be experiencing something of a stalemate here, as Ironwood’s sheer output still eclipses what Adam has confirmed experience with, meaning he is still going to be a serious danger if he gets the chance to properly leverage his own offensive power.  Outside of Yang (who eventually killed him), all of Adam’s confirmed or implied opponents have been fellow skill-based warrior assassins like himself rather than domineering juggernauts.  If Ironwood is able to get his target between a rock and a hard place, Adam would ultimately get crushed underfoot.

Making Adam and Ironwood’s dynamic with each other even more significant is the fact that their weaknesses are centered around their inability to deviate from their chosen patterns.  Both combatants have come up short against each other’s fighter type in the past, Adam falling to a heavy-handed brawler in Yang Xiao Long, and Ironwood a dynamic speed fencer in Winter Schnee.  In both cases, their only recourse was to double down and escalate rather than adopt a more appropriate strategy, meaning they ultimately had nothing to fall back on when overwhelming force wasn’t enough against their more measured opponents.  And this approach would be equally ineffective against each other given they are both equally unyielding when their backs are to the wall.  A pure contest of martial skill between these two would be both a spectacular display of combative talent and a savage war of annihilation.  And given their shared mastery of contrasting fighting styles and tactics, their ruthless aggression, and the significant strengths and weaknesses they have over each other, I don’t see either combatant as having any sort of decisive advantage over the other.

I declare Adam Taurus and James Ironwood EQUAL as Martial Artists and Combat Strategists.

SPECIAL

Adam Taurus and James Ironwood are physical combat specialists who use their Semblances as a direct supplement to their martial techniques, and their applications of their abilities play directly into their respective strategies.  With Moonslice, Adam’s approach of defense and counter is given a whole new dimension, with each blow he blocks or deflects providing him with fuel to unleash a devastating counterattack.  Meanwhile, Mettle perfectly plays into Ironwood’s endurance strategy by giving him the means to leverage his strength and power without interference or distraction from even his conscious mind.  However, when efficiency and application are added to the mix, one power is easily more viable than the other.  While Mettle does reinforce and elevate Ironwood’s performance to a substantial degree, its nature as an inwardly directed power means that its ability to directly influence the combat is extremely limited.  Ironwood may be able to hyper-focus every single one of his punches and bullets to get the most bang for his buck, but his attack output is still restricted to how hard he can punch and nothing more.  By contrast, Moonslice is an ability that has direct offensive applications, affording Adam an additional attack vector to supplement his physical technique.  Furthermore, Mettle’s properties could potentially exacerbate Ironwood’s overextensions, leaving him blind to threats outside of Adam’s direct attacks.  Ironwood may have the means to power through injury, but Adam’s ability to absorb hits makes him the only one who can capitalize on injury.  In a battle of pure Semblances, Adam’s more versatile powers afford a critical advantage.

Ironwood is not entirely helpless as an ethereal combatant, however, as he is the only one here who incorporates Dust into his fighting style.  With the gravity bullets loaded into Due Process, Ironwood compensates for Mettle’s lack of offensive application by way of powerful shockwaves.  Not only do these blasts count as a decent match for Moonslices’s energy waves, but Ironwood’s use of them to support his movements and recoveries affords him a degree of versatility that Adam lacks.  The problem, however, arises when tactics are thrown into the mix.  Adam may be something of a one-trick pony when it comes to firing off Moonslices, but deflecting gunfire to build up energy for those slices is his go-to tactic in just about every situation.  Blake and Yang both proved that the best way to subvert this is to blindside Adam with shots he can’t see coming and can’t deflect, something Ironwood’s certainly capable of doing.  Problem is…he doesn’t.  While perfectly willing to sucker-shoot someone at point-blank range, Ironwood overwhelmingly favors long range gunfire to attack the target directly, which is the absolute last thing to do against this opponent.  Trying to gun down Adam Taurus at range, even with magic bullets, is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.  Not only has Adam proven that he can keep up with Ironwood’s trigger speed, but his performance against the spider drone in the Black Trailer shows that he can easily deal with the magnitude of Ironwood’s rounds and throw them back.  If a gigantic laser cannon couldn’t overwhelm Adam’s Semblance, comparatively dinky Dust bullets ain’t gonna do the job either.  The only piece of Ironwood’s arsenal that even comes close to the spider drone is the energy cannon he utilized at the end of Volume 8, which isn’t applicable here because the cannon is not part of Ironwood’s standard equipment; he only breaks it out for special occasions.

At the end of the day, James Ironwood’s special abilities either gain him nothing or they seal his fate, especially when contrasted with the far more flexible powers Adam Taurus has at his disposal.  Absorbing hits and throwing them back with a sword may seem like a very basic power, but not only has Adam made incredibly calculated uses of it, it is also perfectly optimized to use Ironwood’s own energies against him.  Ironwood’s typical use of Mettle will merely enable him to keep charging after Adam without a thought to what his opponent might attempt, playing into the Faunus’s guerrilla tactics.  Meanwhile, Adam will be able to capably nail the general with his own bursts of destructive power fluidly chained into his swordplay.  And between Ironwood’s overwhelming offensive focus, emphasis on gunfire at range, and the extra oomph of his Dust rounds, he's going to be giving Adam quite a lot to work with.  While Moonslice will not be enough to instantly one-shot Ironwood, it will still be more than enough for Adam to wear Ironwood down.  Furthermore, for all his instability, Adam is able to maintain a more complete situational awareness without sacrificing his focus and aggression, only failing to account for the unexpected when he is being actively distracted.  What Blake achieved with clever feints and flanking maneuvers, Team JNR achieved with an opponent with tactical tunnel vision.  Ironwood has certainly mastered his Semblance and his use of Dust, but he is overspecialized and relatively one-note.  Adam makes far more intelligent use of a Semblance that is more tactically viable and, dare I say, more powerful, and does so in a way that will make him the general’s worst nightmare.

Adam Taurus gets the edge for Special Abilities and Powers.

VERDICT

The name of the game here is Equal and Opposite.  When looking at these two on paper, Adam Taurus and James Ironwood appear to have nothing in common, and in fact appear to be exact opposites to each other.  One is a red and black garbed Faunus hailing from the dregs of society, leader of a smaller guerrilla force, and an openly malevolent, violent, and selfish young man who expressed his cruelty through both a terrorist campaign and a frighteningly abusive relationship.  The other is a blue and white clad human from the most prosperous Kingdom on the map, commander of a large, organized army, and an outwardly charming, friendly, and honorable man who is genuinely dedicated to serving and protecting the world.  However, when one observes the fine print and pushes aside the cosmetic details, the two are tragically far more similar that either would dare concede to.  Both were powerful leading figures within two dangerously controversial factions in the world of Remnant.  Both were initially driven by higher, nobler causes for the sake of their own people, only for those missions to become twisted and corrupted by their mutual preoccupation with power and control, itself heavily influenced by their severe physical and psychological trauma.  But more than anything else, both were the architects of their own destruction, their egos and fear gradually driving away whatever allies they had as they slowly spiraled down a path of madness and murder.  Both believed themselves to be the hero, but they merely lived long enough to see themselves become the villain.  Just as there are a plethora of ironic similarities and stark reversals between these two, so too are their diametrically opposed approaches to combat perfectly suited for engaging the other.  Physically, Adam Taurus has youth on his side and boasts superior agility and stamina, but James Ironwood’s cybernetic enhancements grant him vastly greater strength and durability.  One is optimized for an endurance run, the other dominates a slugging match.  With martial arts, Adam Taurus’s dynamic and counter-centric swordplay and James Ironwood’s domineering brawling and firepower are seamless foils to each other, perfectly optimized to hit the other where he is weakest.  And in the realm of special abilities, Adam Taurus holds the means to attack using his opponent’s own power against him while James Ironwood possesses the ability to deliver each of his devastating blows with laser-guided focus, both powers elevating their respective fighting styles into something greater than the sum of its parts.  This is nothing less than a contest of equals, and while both would be loath to concede to it, they are very much each other’s perfect adversary.

Given that both combatants predicate their success on controlling the engagement, the decisive factor in this matchup is going to be tactics and conduct, as he who can get the other to fight on his terms is he who controls.  This is especially ironic given how both combatants are known for having made extremely ill-informed, borderline foolish, strategic decisions, a failing that went a long way towards driving them to ruin.  However, neither Adam or Ironwood is truly incompetent, they simply lack forethought and tact, and it is worth noting that their blunders were often influenced by factors beyond their control.  When examining their baseline conduct and approaches, they are again well-suited to engage each other, but there is a noticeable disparity that finally tips the scales one way.  James Ironwood is the embodiment of the direct application of power, linear warfare.  Everything he is bringing to the table, body, weapon and soul, is specifically designed to be the strongest and most formidable piece on the board, capable of overcoming any adversary while being virtually impossible to assail himself.  He never deviated from this approach to combat simply because he never needed to 9 times out of 10, and the few times he did run into trouble, all he had to do was hit a little harder before the enemy finally broke.  Meanwhile, for all his ambitions and delusions of grandeur, Adam Taurus is a guerrilla assassin first and foremost, non-linear warfare.  He is operating from a position of lesser strength more often than not, so he works to avoid the head-on collision whenever possible.  He rushes in to cut the enemy down before they have time to respond then quickly move on to the next target, and should they try to fight back, he will defend before immediately countering.  Attacking Adam directly will either give him the opportunity to retaliate or provide fuel for his Semblance, and it is worth noting that most of his successes in battle were against opponents who actively resisted him.  Adam had plans to subjugate the world, which would naturally involve eventually crossing paths with stronger armies, namely Atlas itself, so everything about him is built with the goal of undermining that strength.  And because this is exactly the kind of approach to combat that James Ironwood specialized in, he is exactly the sort of opponent that Adam Taurus has optimized his skill set to combat.  Adam’s ironic tactical and defensive superiority makes his narrow advantages in all other areas decisive edges.  His greater speed and agility will keep him out of the general’s crosshairs, while his superior stamina will allow him to maintain his performance further into the fight.  His fighting style is perfectly suited to take advantage of Ironwood’s overcommitments and land critical blows to further wear him down, while his Semblance will take his enemy’s own consistent attacks and throw them right back at him.

However, I need to stress that Ironwood is merely at a disadvantage, he is not overmatched.  Adam’s advantages may be crucial, but Ironwood’s own are still guaranteed to give the Faunus problems.  If Adam makes a single mistake or Ironwood gets the change to bring his full power to bear, he is going down.  The only thing keeping Adam in this fight is his defensive technique, which he will only be able to execute so long as his head is in the game.  Psychological health is the bane of both combatants’ existence, and their final defeats owed greatly to their deteriorating mental states.  However, while Ironwood is outwardly more collected and stable than the disturbed Adam, his stubborn, borderline obstinate, determination was his greatest weakness, burning his candle from both ends by forcing his way through unnecessary risks, a factor that can lead him to either soldier his way to victory or completely burn him out.  Adam may be the more overtly explosive and volatile man, but his instability is specifically rooted in childhood trauma and his relationship with Blake, and he only lost his cool when specific buttons were pushed.  When Adam’s in the field, he is cold, focused, and all business.  Even accounting for Adam’s clear hatred of Ironwood, Ironwood’s lack of intimate familiarity with Adam means than exploiting his instability would be unlikely even if he were one for psychological warfare.  furthermore, Adam's conduct demonstrates that he is at least somewhat aware of his short fuse, operating in a way to prevent his composure from being tested. Both are extremely arrogant, yes, but Adam has displayed at least a small willingness to recognize his limitations and compensate for them, whereas Ironwood simply tries to be big enough to ignore them, damn the consequences.

In my view, if Adam Taurus and James Ironwood were pitted against each other in the context of the lore, they would no doubt approach each other the way they did Sienna Kahn and Ruby Rose respectively, the former playing it safe and assassinating him and the latter dispatching his forces to hunt him down.  But if dropped in cold, their battle would most likely play out as a combination of their respective final duels with Yang Xiao Long and Winter Schnee.  However, I also feel this would be a far more drawn out and vicious affair.  To take a cue from YouTuber Antione Bandele, I will be breaking my projection into three stages; the Early Fight, the Mid Fight, and the Late Fight.

The Early Fight would begin as a simple standoff before exploding into action, both combatants charging in for the initial exchange.  Despite their tendency for heavy offense, Adam and Ironwood typically open with a more controlled offensive, still aggressive but keeping their full might in reserve so they can assess and escalate as needed.  Ironwood’s heavier guns and unarmed combat would enable him to initially gain ground through sheer force, but Adam has a better recovery strategy, absorbing hits with his Semblance and evading anything else before instantly countering.  At the same time, Adam’s initial retaliation will be sure to knock Ironwood around a bit, but not in any way that would actually slow him down.  As such, this battle will not be decided in the early fight, instead functioning as more of a mutual assessment.

The Mid Fight is where things will begin to escalate.  Once Adam and Ironwood have each other’s measure, they would pull out all the stops, making more deliberate uses of their Semblances and powers while settling into an increasingly brutal rythem.  Blades and bullets flying, surges of energy exploding around them, punches and kicks thrown, both intent on burying the other where he stands.  It is here that Ironwood has his best chance of victory, as the increased intensity of his onslaught is certain to start putting Adam under serious pressure and potentially overpower him.  However, I do not consider this outcome likely, as Ironwood’s approach is too straightforward to push Adam out of his comfort zone.  It must be remembered that Yang defeated Adam by goading him into overextending, not by penetrating his defenses.  Adam’s greater mobility will be more than enough for him to stay out of Ironwood’s crosshairs, while the openings provided by Ironwood’s attacks will be too great for him to ignore.  This constant interruption will also undermine Ironwood’s own offensive, as he will be forced to respond to what Adam is doing rather than controlling the flow.  While Watts’s slippery retreat gave Ironwood the opportunity to marshal his strength and power through, Adam’s in-your-face hack and slash will be chipping away at him at every opportunity.  However, this will not be enough to seal the deal, as Ironwood’s greater durability and iron will will allow him to shrug off all but the most catastrophic hits and continue fighting.

As such, the final verdict hinges on what happens in the Late Fight.  By this point, both combatants will be utterly exhausted, their Auras either already broken or one hit away, though Adam will be better off thanks to his more controlled approach to the battle while Ironwood would be leaning on the native power of his prosthetics and otherwise running on fumes.  Both would be frustrated with not having ended their opponent yet, and would set aside grace to finish it once and for all. From here, I can see two potential outcomes.  Option A; Ironwood’s fatigue will leave him exposed to a series of attacks that he can no longer effectively defend against and endure, and Adam will be able to cut him down.  Option B; Ironwood goes all out and smashes into Adam with his full cyborg weight, willingly subjecting himself to any following injuries in order to bully through Adam's guard and beat him into a bloody pulp.

Of these two outcomes, I view a Faunus victory through attrition to be the more likely.  Ironwood may be capable and willing to accept a pyrrhic victory, but he will only be able to do so if he is able to successfully get the drop on his target, and the only example we have of such was against a distracted Arthur Watts.  Unlike Blake Belladonna, Adam has no reason to underestimate Ironwood outside of sheer stupidity, and would be on guard for any potential counterattack.  In fact, Ironwood’s extreme threat level would no doubt play into Adam’s hands, motivating him to skip gloating and dispatch his target at the earliest opportunity.  Compounding this outcome is the fact that Wilt and Blush are simply the superior option for such a takedown than Due Process; regardless of how powerful Ironwood's pistol whips are, battering someone into submission with blunt force trauma is not an efficient way of subduing your target quickly, especially when compared to a sword blade. Ironwood’s fierce resolve does him credit, but instead of pulling victory out of the fire, his final charge would merely prompt Adam to end it.  In a scarlet flash, the High Leader would narrowly avoid the general’s mauling fist, and Wilt would carve into what remained of his flesh and bone.  General James Ironwood’s body would fall to the ground dead, and the battered, bleeding, and exhausted Adam Taurus would use the last remnants of his strength to raise his bloody blade to the sky and roar in triumph.

I declare Adam Taurus the victor.

XX

Well guys, I hope you enjoyed this next installment of the RWBY Versus Series.  I’ve done my best to explain my position as completely as I can, but I understand if you disagree with me.  All I believe is that Adam is the more likely to end the fight on his terms.  If you disagree, that’s perfectly fine.  All I ask is that you keep your comments civil.

In the meantime, feel free to send me asks about future matchups, stay safe, and I’ll see you guys later!

*all images taken from the RWBY Wiki*

[sweethoneyrose83]

Smiling Critters AU: RWBY

CatNap walks through the Forever Fall Forest with DogDay, Bobby Bearhug, and Craftycorn. As he walks through the forest, CatNap hears birds chirping and the leaves crunching beneath his feet. The sun shines through the trees, causing the world to appear golden. DogDay is walking ahead of him, with Craftycorn and Bobby Bearhug bringing up the rear. CatNap's ears perk up as he hears a strange growling sound coming from the trees to the left. He stops walking to get a better look at the source of the noise.

Suddenly, a beowolf leaps out of the bushes, claws bared and teeth gnashing. CatNap quickly summons a shadow clone to help him avoid the beowolf's attack. The beowolf crashes to the ground, snarling and snapping at the clone. DogDay, Craftycorn, and Bobby Bearhug all take a step back in surprise.

“That was an unexpected encounter! Are you alright, CatNap?” DogDay asks. CatNap used sign language to tell DogDay that he was alright, then looked at the beowolf. DogDay nods in understanding, translating the sign language for Craftycorn and Bobby Bearhug. The beowolf growls menacingly, circling the group and looking for an opening.

“This beowolf isn't going to wait around for us to attack,” Craftycorn remarks. “We should strike first!”

Bobby Bearhug lets out a low growl in agreement, ready to charge forward. DogDay readies his spear, signaling for the team to prepare themselves for battle. “Alright, team,” he says firmly. “Let’s take down this beowolf together!”

The beowulf prowls through the foliage, its red eyes glowing with malicious intent. As it lunges towards DogDay, Craftycorn readies her bow and arrow, aiming to strike from a distance. CatNap swiftly puts on his gas mask, ready for battle. Meanwhile, Bobby Bearhug grins, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Let’s give this Beowolf a taste of our teamwork, shall we?” DogDay declares.

Together, the team strikes. Craftycorn fires her bow, the arrow whistling through the air towards the beowolf. DogDay thrusts his spear forward, hoping to skewer the beast. With precision and timing, Catnap throws the red smoke capsule towards the Beowulf, just as DogDay prepares to strike. As the capsule shatters, it releases a cloud of bright red smoke, enveloping the Beowulf in its mist.

The team waits with bated breath, preparing for the beowulf to charge through the smoke. However, the beast seems to be disoriented by the smoke, stumbling around and flailing its claws without purpose. Catnap watches the disoriented Beowulf with a sharp gaze, observing its movements and its difficulty in navigating through the red smoke that surrounds it. Meanwhile, DogDay looks over at CatNap and gives a nod in approval.

“Nice thinking, CatNap!” DogDay compliments. “That smoke is keeping the Beowulf distracted and disoriented. Now we have the upper hand." Catnap smirks through his gas mask, signing to DogDay to use his semblance. DogDay nods in understanding, acknowledging CatNap's suggestion. He takes a deep breath and activates his semblance, which allows him to summon a burst of energy to temporarily increase his speed and strength.

As the red smoke begins to dissipate, DogDay charges forward, his spear in hand. With a fierce battle cry, he leaps towards the disoriented Beowulf, aiming to strike with all his newfound power. Craftycorn holds her reading bow as she keeps a watchful eye on the disoriented Beowulf, searching for any signs of weakness. Meanwhile, Bobby Bearhug stands behind DogDay, holding her large hammer and ready to support her teammates.

The team looks at each other, silently signaling their next move. The red smoke is fully gone now, and the Beowulf is regaining its bearings. This is their moment to attack. 

As the team looks at each other, a silent understanding passes between them. They now have the advantage over the disoriented Beowulf, thanks to CatNap's strategic use of the red smoke. With a nod of agreement, the team springs into action.

DogDay rushes forward, using his increased speed from his semblance to charge at the Beowulf, his spear ready to strike. Craftycorn takes aim, firing her crossbow to provide ranged support. Meanwhile, Bobby Bearhug rushes next to DogDay, her large hammer ready to deliver a powerful blow. Catnap focuses his energy, summoning shadows to aid his team. Dark, ethereal figures emerge from his own shadow, forming a small army of shadowy warriors. With a firm wave of his hand, Catnap sends these shadows towards the Beowulf to assist in the attack.

The shadows dart out of the grass, leaping into the fray with their twisted limbs and glowing eyes. They attempt to grab onto the beowulf, holding it in place to help the team strike. The combined attacks of the team, supplemented by CatNap's shadows, ultimately lead to the downfall of the Beowulf. The beast collapses to the ground, its body dissipating into dust.

DogDay and Crafty stand victorious, high-fiving each other, while Bobby Bearhug lets out a victorious roar, her hammer held triumphantly in her hand. CatNap walks over to his team with a smile on his face. DogDay pats him on the back, proud of their teamwork and victory.

“Great work, team!” DogDay exclaims. “We fought together and took down that Beowulf like a well-oiled machine!”

Craftycorn nods in agreement, her crossbow hanging at her side. “That was a tough fight, but we did it! And thanks to CatNap’s shadows, we had some extra help.” Catnap signs "Nothing I can't handle," DogDay chuckles, translating the sign language for his teammates.

“That's the spirit, CatNap!” he says, smiling. “You always have our backs, and we're grateful for it. Together, we're unbeatable.” Craftycorn and Bobby Bearhug cheer "I even think we are ready for the Vytal Festival Tournament," Bobby Bearhug says, still bound by adrenaline. DogDay laughs heartily at Bobby Bearhug's enthusiasm.

"The Vytal Festival Tournament?" he grins. "You know, I think you might be right. We make one heck of a team! If we keep working like this, there's no telling how far we can go." CatNap watches and nods in agreement. DogDay looks at CatNap's nod of agreement and grins approvingly.

"It's settled then," he declares. "We're going to kick butt in the Vytal Festival Tournament and show everyone what we're made of. We're going to be unstoppable!" 

The team makes their way back to Beacon Academy, chatting excitedly about the upcoming Vytal Festival Tournament. As they approach the school grounds, they reflect on their recent victory and the bonds they've forged as a team. DogDay leads the way, the gold spear on his back gleaming in the sunlight, with Craftycorn, Bobby Bearhug, and CatNap following closely behind.

[rwby-sk]

I'd love to see a fight scene of Jaune if he gets his younger body back but retains all his combat experience as the rusted knight. Basically going from the straggler of the group to being one of their top fighters with skill and ingenuity. Especially if he starts going against Tyrian and dominating over him and Tyrian is all concerned like "I fought you before. How are you this strong!?"

Honestly?

I kind of don't

- - -

Jaune has been training with the Ace Ops and the other teams of Atlas. He took on Ironwood and Cinder

Jaune is exactly as strong as he needs to be. For someone his age? He's probably one of the strongest regular huntsmen out there. Certainly the most tank-y

Team JNR, to use a darksouls term, GOT GOOD

The issue is they are constantly compared to RWBY (who have crazy strong semblances) and older characters like Winter and Qrow and Cinder (who are older and more experienced)

But compared to FNKI? A team their same age? They won easily

Jaune is more than strong as he is. We don't need him to solo a goliath or Tyrian or anyone else

- - -

Jaune isnt meant to be a good fighter

He's meant to be a good leader. A good healer. Good support

- - -

Also?

Old man Jaune has been fighting 1 beowolf sized creature of and on for years. That's it

I don't think he's an incredible swordsman by now

The jabberwalker doesn't seem all that strong when its normal sized and alone. Yang was fighting it fine..... with one arm......

Nothing else in the Ever After seems to be all that dangerous. Just frustrating

I don't think old man Jaune is the fighter the FNDM seem to think he could be

[aglaean]

It was the burden of great people to be eternally subject to the hungry gaze of the public. This exchange: notoriety for nigh constant observation was the closest L’Arachel would ever come to any sort of infernal bargaining, and she endured the trade with her usual poise. After all, it was imperative that her name resound from all four corners of the land! 

As such, when her admirers first began to encroach upon her precious time, she had thought little of it. This was evidently the natural progression, the inevitable conclusion of prolongued exposure to her splendid visage. Frankly, she had almost been offended that swathes of the enamoured masses hadn’t began to emerge sooner! She supposed that her arrival’s inopportune coincidance with some of the worst weather she’d ever had the displeasure of experiencing was more of a distraction than she’d anticipated. Now, it seemed finally, the students of Garreg Mach had come to their senses. 

For a time, she had basked in the rays of their adoration; revelled, with perhaps a bit too much gratification in the flushed cheeks and shy, tremulous fascination. But, the moment she realised this adoration was one that would almost always be done from a remove; hunched over opportune corners - pedestal-esque yearning, that could only love from afar - the whole affair lost any enticement. She had no time for bated breath and surpressed ardour. These hands that reached for her, but never touched, that shyed away from her like her skin was corrosive… it was a feverish reverance even the most devout of Rausten’s church couldn’t produce. And, to her increasing frustration, any attempts at assurances of her mortality (hard, she knew, as it was to believe) were met with blank nods, glazed eyes that somehow held their focus onto, and looked through her at the exact same time. 

Eyes, that were a bit too dialated for her liking, now that she was dwelling on the topic.

Whilst admiration, love, respect, and all the many accolades she was worthy of were not abnormal, she was certain that there was something malicious behind this blind esteem. The time had arisen: she must put her almighty intellect to task and find the root of the issue! 

Whilst not qualified in any way, shape, or form - denied a chance of taking on what this land called Reason magic, under Uncle’s care because of apparent concerns of “irreperable damages” - to formulate any sort of experiments, the idea tickled L’Arachel.

It did not please her following, who were currently trailing after her, and doing their level best to prevent any affordance of isolation. In her efforts to be rid of the mob, she found herself outside, near the stables.

‘Ah, what do you know, this looks like my next class! Farewell!�� She yelps, sprinting for her way out. Slamming shut the door to the stables, there is an immediate richochet of knocks, voices crying out for their darling Princess.

Were she not horrified, she might have been flattered.

Okay, a small part of her simpered ever so slightly under the attention. She could only linger on this for so long though. There was no denying she was a mighty personage, but her arms were straining to hold them off. Plus, she needed time to do all the stuff she saw mages in Magvel do. Make (what had Lute called them?) hindpotmesses? That didn’t sound right, but she would work on it with fervour.

Glancing frantically around for something to hold the door shut, her eyes land on a man tending to one of the horses. ‘Aid me! I have experiments to perform!’ She declares, her eyes gleaming at the prospects such experimentation entailed. 

[@sayhwaet]

love is in the air? WRONG. gas leak

A troublemaker has emerged amidst Garreg Mach, declaring themselves the Angel of Love! They are the master of the hit and run, shooting comically cutesy arrows at unsuspecting people, trying to orchestrate budding romances with their masterful aim! Some say their love shots are the real deal, while others complain that they’re a menace to public safety. Whatever your opinion, their infamy grows evermore now that they’ve opened up requests! Write in the person you want shot and the person you want them to fall in love with, and if you get a calling card from Angel, then your request is accepted. Just how long will this go on? [Grants Bow +1]

[waheelawhisperer]

Your taste is impeccable, Im curious about your thoughts on Ironwood. I can kinda see the appeal but not really

Honestly there are a lot of reasons I like Ironwood. I'll start with the more superficial ones and go from there.

His voice. I really like deep voices on both men and women and Ironwood's is very nice and calming. His VA did a great job.

He's aesthetically pleasing. I'm not attracted to him personally, but in a purely aesthetic sense, he checks a lot of my boxes - I like his height, his build, his hair, his beard (when he has it), his facial shape, and so on. I'm not a fan of war or imperialism, but I also have Hideo Kojima brain, which means I never grew out of my little-boy fascination with things that go fast or go boom, so I think military equipment and aesthetics and uniforms and so on are rad as hell. Suits and long coats are both things I like a lot and Ironwood's got both going on at one point or another.

He's very complex and compelling, second only to Raven among RWBY's cast in that regard. He's got a lot of personal strengths and a lot of personal weaknesses, and they really serve to make him feel like, well, a person. There are some characters in RWBY that feel flat and bland and lacking in dimension (Vine Zeki, please come stand at the front of the class), but Ironwood never does. He possesses genuine personal courage - he fights an Alpha Beowolf to protect the students, regularly joins his comrades on the front lines, and personally apprehends Watts in Volume 7, flaying the skin off his own arm in the process. He's genuinely warm and caring toward others (at least the ones in his ingroup) - he offers the students the chance to flee the Battle of Beacon without judgment, he sends Yang a prosthetic entirely unprompted, and he welcomes the protagonists to Atlas with open arms, offering them his personal support and his Kingdom's resources. He's emotionally demonstrative and also, in many ways, a very lonely man - just look at how happy he is to see his fellow members of Ozpin's inner circle every time they reunite. He shows flashes of tactical and strategic competence with the Amity plan, the ambush his forces pull against Tyrian, and his capture of Watts. He's also stubborn, paranoid, convinced that his solutions are the right ones, and very willing to sacrifice people who aren't members of his ingroup if he thinks doing so serves the greater good. He's a strong man in many ways, but that strength is brittle and easily shattered. Just ask Cinder.

Many of his personal traits would be considered strengths in other action-oriented media, but are portrayed as weaknesses here. Generally, it's great for your action hero to be determined, to be willing to stand against the whole world to do what they believe is right, to be willing to buck authority when that authority holds them back, and so on - that gives them the strength and resolve to push on through adversity and blah blah blah, but with Ironwood it warps into tunnel vision, into commitment to a failing course of action, into a willingness to listen to others, but not accept that they might actually be right, often because something happens that he thinks proves him right (the breach at the end of Volume 2, Salem's arrival in Atlas). Instead of being a strong, resolute hero or ally, a source of hope and inspiration in the world's darkest hour, he becomes an obstacle that must be circumvented because he's too inflexible to bend.

I love the way he serves as a microcosm of Atlas. He does a great job of embodying his Kingdom's positive and negative aspects - the arrogance, the belief in Atlas's superiority, the technological advancement, the appeal to force, the symbol of hope, the conception of themselves as the defenders of the world... all of it is made manifest in General James Ironwood.

I appreciate his ability to cause problems by accident and cause problems on purpose. He's a very versatile man.

Finally, he's just... fun to watch. When he's onscreen, I feel like something interesting is going to happen. Will it be a good thing? Maybe not, but it will be a thing I want to watch.

[bestworstcase]

I don't quite agree with some of the things you have said. But I won't debate most of the specifics, and just say that Ozma and Salem are not equal to eachother in any way.

Salem's plan in the old days was to kill off humanity. She wanted to 'replace them with what they could never be'. And that is what turned away Ozma. That he was not willing to do this or let their children be a part of it.

And yes I do think we are supposed to take her goal as apocalyptic. The writers have said that Tyrian knowing her true goal was a result of him being perceptive, so we are supposed to take his view as the truth.

as i have said REPEATEDLY, i read the “them” in that statement as “the gods” and the proposition itself as a reiteration of salem’s Two Hundred Million Year Long ambition for humanity to overthrow and replace the gods, with the corollary that If she really meant “humans” ozma had a moral obligation to like, At Least go “salem what the hell” about it because if your wife who has hitherto been cynically pragmatic but keen to support your stated ambitions of uniting people is Suddenly talking about genocide that merits some clarifying questions and a harsh conversation maybe. “Salem Can’t Be Reasoned With” Literally Has Anyone Ever Tried

idk how to tell you that things the writers say in the DVD commentaries are not going to contain major spoilers and “tyrian knows The Truth because he’s insightful” has to be taken in context with the fact that this man burst into tears and started worshipping salem On Sight Literally Before She Spoke which is to say that yeah he’s probably grasped that she wants to destroy the world (in the sense that she despises the world ozma has created because It Sucks and she wants to put a final end to the world ruled by the gods) and is merrily reading into this his own nihilistic desire to End Everything because salem is a mirror onto which her followers cast reflections of their own motivations, something the narrative is Very Clear About.

and like it bears repeating that salem and tyrian are not at all in sync emotionally or on the same page of what is and isn’t acceptable with her: she disdains his groveling, doesn’t care that he killed qrow (and in V5 seems to take considerable pleasure in the prospect of telling him that qrow is Still Alive), easily tolerates the casual way watts talks to her vs tyrian flying off the handle, all but snarls at him when he tries to soothe her distress over ozma returning so fast, listens to ruby’s broadcast with obvious approval while tyrian is furious about it and so forth. when hazel lies to her she yells at him and picks on emerald to punish him and then just moves on; when cinder disobeys her salem does this whole song-and-dance of an apology; when tyrian crawls home with the consolation prize of a dead spy she’s flatly like idc and throws a beowolf at him. she doesn’t treat any of her followers particularly well but her dislike of Tyrian Specifically is tangible and his certainty that he’s her most loyal and most favored acolyte is equally tangible. what i’m getting at here is, They Are Not Living In The Same Reality.

[peerlessscowl]

TOA Anniversary; Mun Day!

Celebrating TOA and the people who contribute to make our group what it is.

Repost, don't reblog. Only fill in what you feel comfortable sharing!

Happy anniversary, TOA! Here's to many more years spent together.

tagging: you! come closer

---

Name: tches

Pronouns: she/they

Birthday (no year): Dec 22

Where are you from? What is your time zone? I'm currently in Colorado, but I'm not American djfkld and I live in Mountain timezone (MST/MDT)

Roleplay experience: About five or six years? All LJ.

Got any pets? My beloved one-eared baby Coriander, whom you have all seen me posting. I also live with two GSDs, Ursa and Solo.

Favorite time of year: Winter!

Some interests and things you like: I have so many interests, so many hobbies. I like languages and history and writing most. Cooking also. I hope sometime in the next year to write my first novel finally. I try to be active and used to really enjoy it before The Bad Period - I used to rock climb and hike every day, and during the pandemic I was buff. Nowadays I'm a lot more sedate.

Some funfacts & trivia about you: Here's two truths and a lie: my spine is made of titanium, I'm directly related to Erik the Red, and I'm a licensed yoga instructor. Have fun!

What non-Fire Emblem games do you play? Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, Octopath, Triangle Strategy, Pokemon. Some indie games.

Favorite Pokemon type & Pokemon: Fire, Gyarados (close tie with Delibird)

How did you get into Fire Emblem? :thinking: I was looking through the GBA games in the video game aisle of the PX, and saw Blazing was on sale. That was it. Not much fanfare.

What Fire Emblem games have you played? All except Archanea, Thracia, and Tellius.

First Fire Emblem game: Blazing Blade

Favorite Fire Emblem game: Blazing Blade

Any Fire Emblem crushes? Listen Jeralt can get it.

If you’ve played the following games, who was your first S support? - Awakening: Lon'Qu - Fates: Kaze - Three Houses: Claude (but I like Hubert best) - Engage: Pandreo

Favorite Fire Emblem class: Mercenary-Hero

If you were a Fire Emblem character, what would be your class? :thinking: Not to be biased, but probably Mercenary-Hero

If you were a Three Houses character, what would be your affiliation? Blue Lions

If you were an Engage character, which Emblem would you Engage with? Probably Sigurd. Dat Momentum.

How did you find TOA? I knew of it in the periphery because I thought I'd check the Raven tag to see who else creates Raven content on Tumblr. I saw the post where mirae dropped him. Then in February, Elf popped into a mutual server and posted, I checked the Wanted List and saw my boy. And here we are.

Current TOA muses: Raven, Igrene and Beowolf

Who was your first TOA muse? If you don’t have them anymore, could you see yourself picking them up again? Raven. My son with every disease, always and forever.

Have you had any other TOA muses? I've also written Sigurd and Saber. Fly high kings, legends in my heart always.

Do you think you have a type of character you gravitate towards? Sad Family TM. Joking aside, I like to think I have a pretty good range, and I still have more musetypes, simply waiting to be released from their enclosures.

What do you believe you enjoy writing the most? I love writing rage, and horror. On the flip side, I also genuinely love writing cheesy, healthy romantic fluff. Duality of man. And of course I froth at the mouth for Family. Reaches -

Favorite TOA-related memory: When I flipped from writing Sigurd re-proposing to Deirdre immediately to responding to a Hector interaction with Raven. Also, when Sigurd got accepted - my heart rate skyrocketed, I was so excited.

Got any delusions that didn’t see the light of day in TOA that you’d like to share? We'll see what the future (Halloween) holds.

How do you pronounce TOA? The acronym! T-O-A, but blended together. Teaoea