#- Belladonna as sisters and the respective ways The Powers changed them as people while they were very young. If life had been a bit kinder

[ars-ceratinus]

6th sense

[theseerasures]

YOu have a lot of interesting thoughts abt Winter what dyou think will happen with her this season?? Iknow you already said she won't die but. other stuff?? What do you think of the idea that she defects to salem

y’know, anon: i was actually gonna write something to this tune unprompted before the hiatus ended? i didn’t, because when it’s inevitably revealed that i was wrong about Everything and the village children throw their eggs and laugh i didn’t want to give them any more receipts, but now that someone has asked i might as well

quick disclaimer before i start! these are subjective speculations about a character who has thus far been--particularly in 8.1--sparsely and ambivalently characterized, on purpose. i am spinning from the same subtext as anyone else, and if i am reading it differently, then all that means that i am reading it differently. Mr. Teeth is not sending me secret data. i am not the Steve Kornacki of RWBY Defections, as hilarious as it is to imagine someone like that existing.

okay? okay. below are some ideas and theories about where Winter could be going this season

The Defection (no not that one yet)

yeah, i’m still an “AceOps defect as a team” truther. this one actually has the least to do with Winter, and most to do with story economy. and the story of the AceOps is this: under Clover they were “the perfect team”--efficient, powerful, professional, and the perfect emblem of Atlesian values. law and order above all else. the mission matters more than the team. don’t get attached.

Clover’s absence from the team begins in late season 7, which means all that shiny varnish is stripped from Atlas at the same time it’s stripped from the AceOps. it turns out that the law isn’t always right, it turns out it’s super easy to turn “the needs of the many” into “the needs of the few who have many,” and it turns out once you go even a single inch past their facade the “best Huntsmen in Atlas” are conflicted, directionless, and squabble like children. they have a better showing against Penny this season, but their continued dynamic shows that fault lines--particularly between Marrow and Harriet--are reaching crisis. The AceOps model is unsustainable, in the same way that all of Atlas is ultimately unsustainable.

then Ironwood puts Winter in charge, and at first i did think: well, this is probably just to accelerate the inevitable fallout. they are, by their own testimony, emotional strangers to each other, and now some of them disagree on ideological grounds to the point where they can barely stand to be in the same room; slapping an abrasive volatile live wire on top of all that is pouring gasoline on Rome while Rome burns.

but the revelation of Renvision was that they’ve been lying--about HAVING feelings, but also about their feelings with and about each other. moreover: Winter’s own emotions mirror theirs. they’re speaking, in whatever horrifically repressed way, a similar language.

i’m not going to discount the possibility that this kind of ice-water-in-the-face moment might not be enough for some of them; one thing i’ve always respected about RWBY is its unwillingness to flinch away from the idea that sometimes it IS too late for people. but when it comes down to the AceOps, i think the operating question isn’t “will they pick JOYR over setting off the bomb,” because they’re not ready to make that kind of decision together as a team yet. no, the operating question is: if it comes down to one of them, or setting off the bomb, what will they choose?

Clover would set off the bomb, without hesitation or remorse. the mission and protocol HAVE to come first, and in this case there’s a compelling argument that it’s the right call. the team under Clover would have followed suit. the team without Clover would have likely done the same.

the team under Winter...

well, the thing about Winter is that she’s NOT Clover. not a perfect soldier, but--let’s stick with “not a perfect soldier.” she cannot lead in the same way Clover did, with that infuriating mixture of self-assurance and personal charisma, but i don’t think she thinks of herself as any less in command, which means that for the time being, the AceOps are her team. i can’t be certain what Winter would choose in this situation--whether her personal feelings can win out against years of consequentialist thinking--but i do feel fairly confident in saying that she’d be more willing to sacrifice HERSELF in order to choose both.

and in this crucial moment where the AceOps are forced to re-evaluate how they feel about each other, and the team, that might count for something.

so tl;dr #1: the AceOps find a team identity separate from the Atlesian structure. whether they defect to the RIGHT people, or survive defection, and whether Winter counts narratively as one of the AceOps by that point, i’m less sure about, but a cursory stab in the dark would be: yes, not all of them, and no.

The Return

how much do the writers care about the Winter-Ironwood dynamic? probably less than i do, but i also care more than any human should be permitted to under the law, especially since people have moved onto speculating about all the hot NEW abusers she could have in her life. whatever--it is something that needs closure, and i think the writers know that. my preference is still that they confront each other in person, at Atlas Academy (Qrow having fucked off via either healthy decision making or force). if this does happen, i don’t think there’s any chance that both of them will make it out alive; Winter would ONLY confront Ironwood if she’s forced to--either by him or other forces--and both of them are too rigid with themselves and with each other to offer any kind of give, or forgiveness.

that’s what i’d prefer, but it no longer seems the most likely option; Winter clearly has no plans to make it back, and the queue for “people who want to slug it out with DILF Jimmy” just keeps getting longer. it’s possible that they’ll end on the same personal-impersonal teeter-totter which they’ve always resided, where they’re just voices in each other’s earpieces, and she’s giving him a report, and he is issuing her orders.

there’s a way to make that meaningful, though: Winter HAS just disobeyed an explicit order--the first she’s done when she fully had the capacity to carry it out. her own treasons are piling up, and it’s a secret that he should know, for plot and character reasons. the obvious choice among the AceOps to tattle is Harriet, but i also think there’s a nonzero chance that, if asked, Winter herself will tell him. for all her flaws, i do think Winter is capable of owning up to her decisions (it’d make a nice parallel with Yang telling Ironwood about what she and Blake did during Gravity, but that’s neither here nor there), but even more importantly...i think she’d tell him because she wants to be reassured. that she did the right thing, but also that they’re still on the same page, and that he’s still the same person he always was, with her.

he won’t reassure her, of course. especially after he finds out that she disobeyed him for Ozpin. she’ll have no one left.

tl;dr #2: Winter and Ironwood have to reach some kind of End by the finale. whether it’s with a bang or a whimper i’m again less certain of, but if it DOES end with a bang one of them will die, and it’s going to be Ironwood.

Winter Alone

i, like many others, assumed going into the season that Winter’s core dilemma would be something like “her family or her family,” meaning: her sisters or her (adoptive) father. but i think as far as the show’s concerned that conflict was resolved when she let them go in The Enemy of Trust, and it’s not worth re-litigating. since the season started she’s just missed Weiss and/or Penny TWICE by narrative contrivance--during the Amity heist, and the abortive recovery mission--and she’s been sent away from Ironwood. it’s increasingly looking to me like Winter and Weiss will not talk to each other at ALL this season (do they have Scroll reception in the whale? i guess they must if Watts talked to Tyrian), or at most will only catch a tantalizing glimpse of each other before being whisked away again. all of this points to the issue not being “whose side will Winter choose,” but “what kind of person IS Winter, when she doesn’t have anyone else’s ideology to fall back upon?”

which is very exciting to me! the What You Are in the Dark trope is an obvious staple, but i’m especially a sucker for it when it happens to characters like Winter, who lucked out in the sense that their more selfish motivations (protecting herself from Dad) have never quite conflicted with doing Good (protecting other people). the cognitive dissonance for that with Winter has already been played up to the max, so for it to come to a crisis for her, at a point when EVERYONE WHOSE OPINION SHE CARES ABOUT HAS ALREADY FUCKED OFF, is just great drama. it’s made all the better by the fact that RWBY specifically has a lot of villains whose backstories involve them being put in a similar situation, and choosing wrong: Adam chose spite. Raven chose cowardice. getting to see someone make that choice in the story proper, then, adds to and complicates what RWBY has to say the conditions of possibility for heroism and villainy.

furthermore, and this might be where my biases become delusions: that Winter is being maneuvered to make these decisions for herself, BY herself, points to the possibility that she might be graduating from a mostly region-locked character (Ilia, the Belladonnas, Beacon staff and students) to full-on supporting cast (TRQ, Maria, the villains). if Weiss and/or Penny reach out to Winter in a climactic confrontation this season, then the story isn’t NOT about Winter, but it would place more emphasis on Weiss and/or Penny, as main cast members, and their ability to save a person they love. but if their relationships are given more space and time for breathe (or fester!)--if Winter gets to change away from Weiss in the way that Weiss changed and grew away from Winter in Mistral, for example--then it points to a greater parity in terms of their mutual importance in the story.

tl;dr #3: Schneester Bowl might have to wait at least another season, because Winter’s too busy trying out independent thinking. now, whether Winter will make the RIGHT choice, or the story will LET her make that call after she’s decided...

2Defect2Salem

i actually touched on this before, so tl;dr #4.1: i do not find the ways that people talk about HOW Salem gets Winter to defect to be very convincing. the idea that Salem could easily manipulate Winter because they have similar backstories makes me...tilt my head, but i think that’s more due to my personal belief that people who are similar in those ways actually tend to be each other’s blind spots (i also think this about Blake and Winter, FWIW). more to the point: my personal reading of Winter locates a streak buried deep within that is unyieldingly CATEGORICAL. despite being embedded within Atlesian rationality, despite her mentor being James Ironwood, there is something in Winter that instinctively judges an immediate instance to be right or wrong, and she’s never been able to suppress that all the way.

and with that in mind, i genuinely don’t think Winter is enough of a long-term, big picture thinker to give herself over to despair for Atlas as a whole. oh, we see her parrot “for the good of all, not just a few” just fine, but if she was already having trouble internalizing that when it was coming from IRONWOOD, a man she loves and trusts, then why would Salem--a person she is predisposed to distrust--be better at convincing her that the ends justify the means? why would she believe that submission is preferable to extinction from someone that EVERYONE SHE KNOWS considers an enemy? it’s hard for me to conceive of a Winter who, perched at the lip of the despair event horizon, will a) think enough of herself to make a decision for everyone and b) accept that the decision is imperfect and compromise, when she could just do what soldiers do, what she’s been asked to do, and die for an impossible cause.

(also not to belabor the point, but: ...how is she supposed to deliver Atlas to Salem? are we assuming that the Atlas Military works via Klingon Promotion, or that Ironwood gave her all his passwords?)

this is not to say that i think Winter will completely no-sell Salem (though that would be VERY funny). assuming that she and Salem do end up in the same room (which is still up in the air), i can easily picture a scenario where Salem manipulates Winter into making a bad decision (though honestly, Winter’s been doing just fine with that all on her own), but the distance between “a bad decision” and “a decision that she knows will help the Big Bad” is still quite far. i can similarly picture a scenario where Salem gradually sways Winter--not a single Anakin-style dramatic reversal, but an Atris-style descent-by-inches, through a million little non-choices--but that’s the thing: manipulation takes TIME, no matter how good at it you are, and we’re running up against the fact that the season ends in 6 episodes, and Winter is only one of about a trillion dangling threads.

tl;dr #4.2: the only way i can see Winter defecting to Salem THIS SEASON, then, is if it’s not her choice at all. for me, this makes the most thematic sense--that she’s been playing keep-away so long with her own agency, and Salem ends up resolving the issue by taking it away from her completely. that she wants so much to be sure she’s making the right choice, or to not have to make the call, and Salem gives her exactly what she wants. she’ll never have to think for herself again. we know Salem is capable of something like that, because we’ve just seen the Hound. Winter won’t be another Hound, if only because churning out the same horror will only yield diminishing returns, but she might be...something else.

regardless, tl;dr #4.3: if “Winter defecting to Salem” shakes down in any way--either as originally posited or as i just described--it would be an FANTASTIC story and character engine. i’ve already talked about the potential conflict this could create within Team RWBY, but like...imagine Weiss talking to ANYONE about her sister. imagine Weiss talking to Emerald, who would have just joined the heroes, whose decision to cut herself off from Cinder would feel like a portent. imagine Winter with the villains! not just Salem, but Cinder! imagine the subtextual parallels between the two becoming TEXT. imagine the two of them having to work together! imagine how Cinder would feel to lose Emerald and get Winter. imagine how Mercury would feel! can you imagine Winter and Mercury bonding over their daddy issues?? because i can’t! but i wanna. my love for Winter isn’t contingent on her making the right choices, but on her getting the right material. this would not only be the right material, but A LOT OF IT, and if the writers do choose to go in this direction, i trust them enough to be excited about where it might go.

[graegrape]

A closer look at Team OJQG

Hey!! It’s been a while since I last updated the info on my RWBY AU regarding Ozpin’s inner circle, so I thought I’d dump the profiles I’ve written so far here. I’m currently working on the general storyline and the side characters including Team SKRW (Summer, Kali, Raven, Willow), so stay tuned for that!! :]

OZPIN SMARAGDINE

- Ozpin is the son of a middle class family, the Smaragdines, from Vale, and is sent to Beacon in order to become a freelance huntsman. He himself also wants to attend Beacon in order to find out more about himself and his recent fusion with Ozma's and thus the late King of Vale's soul.

- He's often a quiet, smart young man - and a chaos enabler at the same time. He only acts all wise and cool, though a piece of it still remains. He wants to help people.

- He hasn't been able to regain all of the King of Vale's memories and struggles with the fact that he's just another life of Ozma's.

- He distances himself from his teammates in order to not involve them with whatever is happening to Ozma - he later on learns that he can't carry all of this on his own.

RELATIONSHIPS

- Glynda Goodwitch: Ozpin and Glynda used to be childhood friends, but lost sight of each other. Reuniting at Beacon, the two of them start to reconnect - Glynda is worried about Ozpin, though. He's changed a lot, and Ozpin is aware.

- James Ironwood: Ozpin is sceptical of James's decisions and brute force solutions at first. He slowly warms up to him after the big confrontation in V2, however. He enjoys his company, even if the two may not see eye-to-eye sometimes.

- Qrow Branwen: Ozpin isn't sure how to feel about Qrow. With time, though, the two really hit it off and Ozpin finds secret enjoyment in Qrow's schemes.

- Summer Rose: Oz and Summer don't interact much. They're pretty good friends, Summer can open up to Oz and occasionally worries for him. Big brother/younger sister relationship?

- Raven Branwen: Oz is mostly neutral on Raven. Their relationship only develops after V4, and they're a bit hostile towards each other. Ultimately, the two of them become allies - not friends, though they do open up to each other from time to time.

- Kali Belladonna: Kali and Oz share similar views and get along pretty well with each other. Good buds!

- Willow Schnee: Oz slightly worries for Willow due to her quiet nature, even if they aren’t good friends. They’re allies.

GLYNDA GOODWITCH

- Glynda is an ambitious young woman from Vale, and aims to become a famous huntress. Her semblance manifested very early on and set great expectations for her due to its power. She attends beacon in order to not let her family down.

- She's rather stern and doesn't like unproductivity. Even though she may seem like she has a stick up her ass, she does sometimes find pranks and the like funny. She rolls her eyes at a lot of Qrow's mischief, then lets it slide.

- Over the course of the story, more and more pressure is put onto her, plus additionally having to worry about everything, until she snaps. She realizes that she's grown similar to Ozpin before his development and deals with this in V4.

RELATIONSHIPS

- Ozpin Smaragdine: Ozpin and Glynda used to be childhood friends, but lost sight of each other. Reuniting at Beacon, the two of them start to reconnect - Glynda is worried about Ozpin, though. He's changed a lot. What could he be hiding?

- James Ironwood: Glynda isn't fond of James's methods. She's on a similar wavelength to him about mischief, the only difference is that James is way more vocal about his dislikes. She sometimes ends up seeing him as a child as a result.

- Qrow Branwen: Glynda rolls her eyes at Qrow's schemes occasionally. She thinks his snarky and uncaring attitude could definitely be dropped, and so could his constant fights with Ironwood.

- Summer Rose: Glynda gets along pretty well with Summer. Good friends!

- Raven Branwen: Glynda doesn't really like Raven. Mutual respect is the result.

- Kali Belladonna: Glynda likes Kali's upbeat attitude and doesn't mind spending time with her!

- Willow Schnee: Glynda gets on really well with Willow. Her quiet nature allows her to be a lot more laid-back in conversation, and Glynda values that.

QROW BRANWEN

- Qrow is a scheming young man from the Branwen tribe who was sent to the academy with his sister, Raven, to learn to kill the huntsmen the tribe hates so much.

- He's foul-mouthed, playful and likes to ignore every single rule presented to him. He doesn't care about people who are up their own ass about their ideas of what's just and what isn't, instead relying on his own sense of 'just do what's good enough for yourself.'

- His arc revolves learning that he needs to care about other people, as well. He needs to accept that not everyone will share his views and the views that the tribe has forced on him. His team helps him grow as both a person and a fighter.

- ADDITIONAL: In this AU, the Branwen family has the inherited ability to turn into Ravens. It’s similar to the Schnee-inherited semblance, but it’s not.. a semblance in that sense. It’s complicated.   

RELATIONSHIPS

- Ozpin Smaragdine: Ozpin and Qrow get along fairly well after a rocky start. Qrow trusts Ozpin to not be as stuck-up as any others and thinks he's a nice guy.

- Glynda Goodwitch: Qrow thinks that Glynda is a bit too strict and enjoy teasing her, but overall the two get along.

- James Ironwood: Oh boy, do these two fucking despise each other. Qrow hates James's attitude and basically everything he stands for. The two fight a lot, even with weapons. Their relationships comes to a climax in V3 and they slowly work past their differences.

- Summer Rose: Qrow likes Summer a whole lot. She's a bit of a brat, and that's what makes it fun to him!

- Raven Branwen: Qrow and his sister aren't close. Their views of their past grow to be different. Qrow values emotional bonds to his now-friends more and sometimes even sees Raven as a coward due to her actions.

- Kali Belladonna: Enjoys her upbeat troublemaker personality and likes hanging out with her, doing foodfights and the like when the oppurtunity presents itself.

- Willow Schnee: He does not like Willow, but they don't interact much. To Qrow, she's just another Atlas brat.

JAMES IRONWOOD

- James is the son of an upper class Atlas politician and is sent to attend Beacon because his father wants to make it clear that he, in fact, 'cares about the other kingdoms as he should.' In reality, his father couldn't care less. James is there to boost his public image.

- James is uptight and headstrong, often resorting to solve problems with brute force and power. He's cold, analytical, and values rules over all. Despite everything, he tries his very best - he does enjoy interacting with other people, even if he isn't great at it.

- In his arc, he comes to terms with his privilege, battles with prejudice against lower class citizens and Faunus and confronts his beliefs about his father's true intentions.

- ADDITIONAL: James, at the start of the show, has one metal leg, due to his fathers extremely painful training. 

RELATIONSHIPS

- Ozpin Smaragdine: The two of them don't bond very well until V2, after which they start to enjoy each others' company more.

- Glynda Goodwitch: To James, Glynda is one of the few people who shares similar views with him... which isn't exactly right. He sees her as mature and, even if she may express her dislike at times, they ultimately still care for each other.

- Qrow Branwen: Mutual hatred for each other. James hates everything about Qrow. His uncaring nature, his attitude towards rules and order, you name it. To James, Qrow is just another runt. Their relationship comes to a climax in V3 and they slowly work past their differences.

- Summer Rose: He isn't exactly fond of her, but doesn't mind her.

- Raven Branwen: James and Raven do not get along, end of story. Put them in a room and you'll end up with a very long speech or a dead body.

- Kali Belladonna: Not sure what to think of her. Doesn't mind her.

- Willow Schnee: James relates to her, considering the whole 'way too high expectations' stuff. He empathizes with her and sees her struggles. The two of them bond, although they aren't really friends.

--

Annnnd that’s it! Reblogs are very appreciated as always, and thank you for reading. If you have any questions/want to share ideas, don’t be scared to send me an ask!!! :]

[nutslovesdolts]

The start of something new

Part 1 of the pirate!au

On solem seas the winds a blow under our sails asunder, and through these tails of pirates woe and admirals they plunder, the wicked eye of yonder storm shant tear them from there sea-ward home, and Ruby rose and crescent sails beyond. A secret tail of lovers scar and beauty in the dark, respect the deep blue sea they must or drown in it there hearts will under, A Schnee it seems an even match for captain of the crescent rose, and one ship sank yet romance blossom through the heat of battle..

Ruby: so what do you think…? Were from different worlds Weiss-

Weiss: Captain Schnee to you, and once my sister finds you have me… she will show no mercy

Ruby: Your sister doesn't scare me, nor any who seek to block our quest, we seek only the most noble outcome for human and Faunus kind, your people of the kingdom Atlas do not see it as such… but I do not wish for us to be enemies, as I have proposed, as penance for a noble fight and surprise partnership, and as you lost your ship in our valiant battle, I have grown to respect you….  we shall adopt your crew as part of ours, and work towards a common goal *holds out hand to shake* you would become my first officer, a sign of unity and trust for both our peoples

Weiss: *looks at the outstretched hand, surprised by the kindness and trust she was shown by her fiercest enemy, this all had to be a joke, a ruse… there was no way this smiling bubbly… PIRATE could be the foe she had set out to slay… after a moment she noticed the concerned look on Ruby's face, she had been staring at her hand for almost a minute* I… I just don’t believe you would put so much trust in someone who was trying to kill you meer moments ago… this feels… surreal…

Ruby: look *sighs and leans back* were not like normal pirates, we don’t speak out fights, and my fleet is only here to protect the people, and to prevent organizations like Admiral Khan’s fleet from over running and murdering entire villages… we've lost too much already… *a sad look came into her eye as she stared out over the water through the window in the cabin* Captain Taurus has been plaguing my sister and her partner for ages, they had to separate because of Adams bloodlust… now I know not the fate of my own family… and with the navy that is of the darker worlds… the fleet of magic and evil, the creatures and armies of grimm *she said with a wince* … why would I hold any grudges towards you? Or your crew… you may come from a nation of bigots, and from a family of evil… but I do not see that in you, so please… just join me? For the sake of the world? Our forces combined… our knowledge…. We may actually have a chance for once, not to mention how nice it would be to have such a stunning lady aboard *she said breaking the solemn mood with a wink*

Weiss: *blushing ever so slightly* well… i'll give you this captain, you know all the right things to say, but let me get one thing straight, I will not attack Atlas ships, nor will I save you if my sister finds us *she reaches out to Ruby’s outstretched hand* but for now… you are our best shot at surviving out here… as much as it pains me to say it, me and my crew are at your disposal… but one thing?

Ruby: hmm? Of course, I never said anything about conditions, fire away

Weiss: we don’t have to change uniforms, we can keep our colors and fly them high, you may have taken our ship… well not YOU but you know… but we are still proud of who we are

Ruby: *nodding* of course,  and i am deeply sorry about your ship, I wouldn’t have done so much damage had I know about the creature.. But it is of no matter now, snowflake is unfortunately gone and we are victorious, shall we go on deck to make our announcement of our partnership?

Weiss: *smirking* when you say it like that it sounds like we're getting married

Ruby: *losing composure for a moment* I… well… aaaaaaaaoooon deck we go hehe *gestures with both hands to the door*

Weiss: rolling her eyes* you are such a dolt

*as they left the cabin Weiss was greeted by the breathtaking quadruple masted ship, long and with a consistent curve hidden under water, the blood red wood base contrasted with the black trim which had ornate patterns of gold within them, similar to her captain's outfit, it had 2 gun decks of varying lengths, and doors in both bow and stern for added cannon fire during a chance, never before has such a fast ship sailed in these waters, especially not one with a battering ram at the helm, her bow held a beautifully carved bouquet of roses in place of the normal figure head, and smaller roses ran along the sides colored in the aforementioned golden paint, the tall triple sailed masts held two Qrows nests at the top in which were sitting the lookouts ever vigilant, the ship felt… warm, almost like there was a glow about it, Weiss had seen it during their battle but especially now with the mingling crews of both ships only moments ago who had been at each others throats, patching each others wounds and sharing tails… Weiss’ crew seemed hesitant, as if they also saw this all as a type of joke… how were these people so kind…?*

Ruby: ATTENTION CREWS OF THE CRESCENT ROSE AND THE SNOWFLAKE, me and your captain have come to an accord, we shall combine our crews into equal parts, no man or woman, nor anyone in between is to be discriminated against. To the crew of the snowflake, many of our crew such as Ilia are faunus, they are to be treated no differently from your own friends, understand?

*there was some quiet murmuring*

Weiss: Anyone who disobeys that order shall answer DIRECTLY to me *she said confidently putting a hand on her sword*

Ruby:*looking proud already* Aye, and all those who wish to try their luck at the seas mercy shall be given a row boat and 4 weeks rations, the choice is yours

*a few members of the snowflake raised their hands to take that option, but not before being stared down by Weiss*

Weiss: cowards, bigoted cowards… begone from this sturdy vessel and may the sea be kind to you on your long journey!, excuse us, as me and your captain have much to discuss about our moving forward

Ruby: Here Here to our new order

*the two went back inside the cabin, before a knock on the door came*

Ruby: Ilia! How are you?

Ilia: hey captain, I just have a question, now that Weiss is first officer, what does that make me?

Ruby: sorry for the demotion, you deserve the best, but I just need to set an example

Ilia: I understand captain, I'm actually glad to be out of the spotlight for once haha, and Ms. Weiss, pleasure to meet you

Weiss: likewise Ilia, I hope we have more time together in the future.

*the door closes behind her*

Weiss: so what now, what's our plan, should we follow the trail of our attackers?

Ruby: I have my best man on it, Sun is up in the Qrows nest right now keeping tabs on their location, our current heading keeps us at a parallel course while out of sight due to the sun’s location, perfect cover

Weiss: then what is it that is left to discuss?

Ruby: *blushing* well, I actually hoped to get to know you better… we’ve kinda always been at each others throats and now… well, were free of all that

Weiss: I… am actually quite interested to get to know the infamous pirate Ruby Rose, the pirate that fights with a scythe… quite a unique story I believe  

Ruby: of that well see, I feel as though our journey's just begun

Weiss: then here's to see where our pearls shall take us next

Ruby: I would like that

________________________________________________

Crew manifest:

Crescent Rose: Ruby Rose: captain of the Crescent Rose, fastest fighter on the seas

Ilia: stealth assassin and intel operative, former first mate to Ruby

Sun: lookout and tracker, knows his ways around the ropes of the ship

Neptune: cook, he hates water se he stays where he won't have to look at it

Scarlet: one heck of a fighter, partner of sage and close confident to sun and neptune, former diplomat tuned pirate due to an incident with pudding at the headmasters wedding

Sage: tank and heavy lifter, uses a massive sword to shatter other ships, hes big and band and fears mice, we love him

Reese: tech specialist, found adrift on a device of her own design, her ship and crew were destroyed in an attack, so pledged her loyalty to our cause

Taiyang: father of Ruby, helps below deck and in training crew members

may: best sniper in remnant, now at least

Snowflake (former):

Weiss Schnee: captain of the most advanced dust technology imbued ships currently available to new captains, a battle ship that was no match for captain rose

Klein Seaburn: Weiss personal assistant, has the strength of 7 men, skilled in different forms of combat, a true force to be reckoned with

Atlassian guards: those who weren't killed in the attack but let's face it are cannon fodder

Pilot boy: no one knows his real name, but he can steer a ship like no one's business

Bumblebee

Yang Xio-Long: captain

Crew: tbd

Shroud, sister ship to the bee, stolen from Fang

Blake Belladonna: captain, former member of the fleet the white fang

Crew: tbd

Power cruiser: tech ship with straightened hard sails for unimaginable speed and flexability

Penny Polendina: captain, free spirited and not afraid to break the rules to win, always cheery, used to date Ruby, decided they were better as the best of friends for the time being

Crew: Ciel: personal assistant to Penny, time keeper, expert at star maps and fishing

Personal detail: special guards posted to keep Penny safe, she usually protects THEM

[kkglinka]

I really love the complexity of the parents we see in RWBY, because every one of them is presented with both positive traits and countering flaws that affect their children in different ways. See, you can be a great person, but have lousy parenting skills in some area, or even overall. Likewise, you can be a mediocre or shitty person but have great parenting skills. Because like all skills, they require education and practice which, in this case, is typically acquired from their own parents or extended family. I'll start with the easy ones:

Jacques Schnee is socially well-regarded, has productive business acuity, demonstrates high self control, but is a horrible. He provided for all of Weiss' material needs to excess, along with a vast array of complex social skills — though limited on the interpersonal front. He ensured his child was well-educated and wanted for nothing, so long as she obeyed extremely rigid and limiting household rules that created a highly intimidating atmosphere. This type of extensive control and manipulation is what makes his otherwise supportive parenting abusive in nature, chiefly affecting Weiss' emotional development and sense of autonomy — the latter being her chief motivation to become a huntress.

Raven Branwen is a skilled tribal leader/chief, highly capable individual, perceptive, displays strategic intelligence, but poor adaptability. She is demonstrably intolerant of any display of emotional vulnerability and has an excessive need to save face. We can only speculate on the specifics, but drawing on common real life scenarios, she was young when she had her daughter, Yang, and in a highly stressful period of life. Based on what we know, I believe she was aware of her poor parenting skills, her inability to be emotionally available/supportive, all of which conflicted with what she felt were social obligations to her tribe.

She made the correct choice to do what was best for her child and surrendered her to her father. I know there are people who assume that she would have been a great mother if she stayed with him, but some people just can't and shouldn't be parents. If that was the case, it was admirable that she recognize her flaws, even if it was overwhelming fear of being a mother. Unfortunately, younger children and teens often fantasize about absentee parents, creating unfair expectations rooted in a desire for love. When those hopes are dashed, the child may become depressed or resentful, psychologically rejecting that parent...who is a source of some of their own character traits. Consequently, this can become a form of self-hatred that only time and perspective can cure.

Taiyang Xiao Long is a steady, reliable man who emotionally withdrew following the dissolution of his huntsman team, loss of one partner, followed by a loss of a second. This would have been a powerful series of emotional traumas for a very young man, and his resulting depression and severe withdrawal were completely natural and predictable. He was in a position where he required extensive emotional support but was forced to care for two young children instead. We can see from how both daughters grew up to be confident, socially adept, friendly and capable that he has relative good parenting skills.

Nevertheless, his withdrawal was a form of benign neglect that affected his older child more severely than the more psychologically malleable and therefore adaptable younger one. His older daughter was forced to shunt aside her own emotional needs and personal goals to partially assume the role of caretaker for some significant but unspecified period of time. In the long term, this resulted in his eldest daughter demonstrating high degrees of altruism and supportive behaviors, but at the expense of her own future goals and desires. She has repressed those to the point that she feels aimless.

Finally, while in a state of acute ptsd following a severe set of traumas, Taiyang's own aversion to dealing with further trauma leaves him incapable of offering emotional support. As his own response was withdrawal, he lacked the skills necessary to guide Yang to a healthy recovery. Instead, she further repressed her own emotional needs to fulfill her expected responsible and self-sufficient role. While there was no malice in Taiyang's actions, it doesn't change a series of belittling and dismissive comments he made about Yang's behavior, along with some uninformed reductive judgments.

Which leads straight into Qrow Branwen, who we know took on a primary mentoring role for his niece (in-law), Ruby Rose. We see Ruby demonstrate open love and admiration for him, which tells us that he was a very positive and encouraging influence on her. We know very little of Ruby's relationship with her father, beyond his protective nature, but she respects Qrow a great deal. At the same time, she is deeply frustrated by his alcoholism. Qrow has socially stagnated to the point that even his alleged semblance has failed to change or develop in any way. He's an example of a kind of shitty person with good parenting skills.

Which he mostly devoted to his niece, because we see little evidence of a similar relationship with his sister's child, Yang. From their very first exchange playing video games together, he is subtly contemptuous toward her (and her team mates). At the time, this was played as a humorous challenge, but when coupled with his continued lack of attention, along with a dismissive attitude toward any anger and hostility from Yang, his attitude is troubling. I'm forced to wonder just how much Yang reminds Qrow of his own sister. Regardless, we see from both father and uncle an unwillingness to assist Yang when she displays stress or unhappiness.

In an almost complete inverse, we have Ghira and Kali Belladonna. We retroactively know that their daughter, Blake, was in the throes of acute ptsd during volume one of the show, meaning much of her antisocial and avoidant behavior was not representative of her base personality. But we now see that Blake is decisive, highly devoted, emotionally expressive and driven by a strong sense of justice and compassion. She was comfortable speaking to her parents about her interests and concerns and they responded immediately with supportive actions and attitudes. They gave no recriminations, prioritized forgiveness and, unless I'm mistaken, the only parents we've seen hug their child.

Unfortunately for them, they raised a headstrong child, teaching her to question and challenge whatever she found just, including their decision to withdraw from a political organization that they saw was going off the rails. They did not have Blake's full respect and had somehow left her vulnerable to an abuser's manipulation. Abusers such as Adam begin by offering false emotional support or otherwise providing for a victim's unmet needs to lure them close. (Because narcissists make up the majority of abusers, and they're emotional attention vampires, they tend to seek out genuinely supportive wellsprings). I infer that Blake's parents were, despite their very strong emotional skills, frequently inattentive workaholics. This is another form of benign neglect and it caused their daughter to seek out another source of attention, during a period of her teen development when she needed more stability than they could provide.

Just as with real life, while the shittiest people were good parents in some ways, even the best parents had blind spots resulting in long-term consequences for their children.

[helly-watermelonsmellinfellon]

YGWYG ~ Characters

So it’s been a while since I started You Get What You Give and I’ve decided to redo the character’s of Bella and Prue to better represent them now that they’re 13. So here are their character’s now, compared to [MY LAST] post on them.

Belladonna Pandora Potter-Michaels:

Born: July 31 2000.

Heiress Black, Heiress Gaunt, Heiress Blishwick.

Twice Blessing: Natural Aptitude and Healing.

Has been cut much shorter and put up or braided now and then. 

Age: 13 as of chapter 29.

Pureblood Witch - only recently learned. Lily was adopted and was born of Pureblood Squibs. Related to the Selwyns, Blishwicks, and Gaunts.

Needs glasses but wears contacts.

Left at the Dursleys - because she was assumed to be a Squib - until she was 5 and then left at an orphanage.

Got therapy for a few years and then was adopted.

Figure skater who constantly trains to join the Junior Division so she can participate in international competitions. Her coach is her muggle guardian.

Plays the piano very well but refuses to learn proper theory because a teacher in primary school tried forcing her to do too much at once and was manipulating talent shows to come out in Bella’s favor. So Bella does what she wants only.

Hard work ethic towards her interests.

Complete disinterest in things she finds boring.

Has issues with finishing things she starts like books, puzzles, and homework. They become too boring or easy and she cannot focus any longer.

Is the real GWL and now knows it, but plans to not say anything.

Greatly affected by the Horcrux inside her which is sabotaging her attempts at learning out of jealousy for her escaping her orphanage when he didn’t get to. The birthmark(Horcrux scar) on her chest hurts the same time a weird, droning voice fills her head, giving her intense migraines, making her lose focus on the world, and results in her rolling herself up in a blanket and rocking back and forth for hours as she tries to get through it. This started the moment she was adopted.

Naively trusts a book that talks back the moment she writes in it and doesn’t think it could possibly be dangerous because the Sorting Hat could talk too and it was considered good.

Will take no shit from bullies. Has defended herself a few times and gets a bit excited over tearing her attackers down. A bit susceptible to power trips and the rush of feelings they give her.

Plans to find a way for Squibs to access their magic when she’s retired from competitive figure skating. She’s very sensitive over the subject of Squibs and being abandoned because they can’t access the magic they do have.

Has made more friends.

Isn’t interested in going on adventures.

Blunt.

Slytherin.

Growing closer to her twin sister through mutual, unfortunate experience and a better understanding of each other.

Hates her blood parents.

Prunella Alula Potter:

Born: July 31 2000.

Heiress Potter, Heiress Selwyn.

Twice Blessing: Natural Aptitude and Healing.

Choppy red hair and green eyes that aren’t as bright as Bella’s.

Age: 13 as of chapter 29.

Pureblood Witch - only recently learned. Lily was adopted and was born of Pureblood Squibs. Related to the Selwyns, Blishwicks, and Gaunts.

Needs glasses and has changed her frames.

Got to stay with her parents in the magical world.

Was spoiled and never punished.

Forced by James to play only football(soccer) or Quidditch as a kid and got good enough to join the Chudley Cannons the moment she turned 11. Is aiming for a spot on the Welsh National Team when she turns 14.

Hard work ethic towards her interests.

Complete disinterest in things she finds boring.

Highly respects Molly Weasley and her family. Is beginning to respect Sirius and Remus. Will back talk without a thought to people who annoy her.

Has no sense of self-preservation in the form of pain and injury. Believes it doesn’t matter if she gets hurt if she’ll just heal immediately afterward. Why waste magic on fixing her up if her body will do it itself?

Has never been taken to the hospital as a result of the above beliefs from both parents as well as herself.

Is not the GWL and was told so by Voldemort. Has shared this information with her twin and taken Bella’s lead on what to do.

Greatly affected by her parents’ fighting as she grew up and escaped to the Weasley’s house often enough to shove money in random places to pay for her time there.

Has been taught that she deserves whatever she wants because she’s the GWL(only now she’s confused because she isn’t the GWL but she still wants nice things all the time). Mellowed out a bit in favor of more time as a kid than a celebrity.

Choppy hair is a result of an argument between her parents where Lily began cutting her hair, James walked in mid-way and threw a fit over not consulting him over it, and Prue escaped while they spent the day screaming at each other. She keeps it many different lengths and messy in protest to their actions.

Likes having money and always has new things after shopping.

Has an entitlement complex instilled in her by James but it is getting better as time passes and her focus moves on to other things.

Was not taught how to shop for herself and Molly Weasley had to teach her how to handle personal hygiene matters. If learning how to fix those issues though.

Struggles to make friends.

Isn’t interested in going on adventures.

Awkward.

Blunt to an extent but not very brave.

Gryffindor(just barely). Nothing like either parent though.

Not prejudiced against Slytherin.

Uncomfortable in taking the lead and prefers to let Bella be in control.

Hates her blood parents.

So yeah, I used LN again to get a better idea of what they look like now.

[lostinfic]

Hardy x Hannah • 12

Enchantment 

#12 Storm clouds

Thank you for the prompt, I hope you like it!

Rating: all-ages

Word count: 2124

Summary: Hannah is a witch afraid to fall in love, until one of her spells backfires in the best of ways.

@tinyconfusion here’s your Practical Magic AU (although maybe not the one you dream of) (early birthday present?)

Ao3

Hannah had swam too far. The cliffs were a mere copper line in the distance. Not a soul on the beach, they’d all gone home for supper.

The water turned grey. It shivered around her, stirred, restless under the gathering clouds.

Hannah swam towards the beach but the undercurrent pulled her back. Waves sucked at the strength in her legs. Rain fell like a lead curtain. She couldn’t tell the sea from the sky, the beach from the horizon.

Panic flared in her guts, short-circuited any rational thoughts. She tried to scream for help but waves slapped her face and salty water splashed into her lungs.

*

In the conservatory of her aunts’ house on the Isle of Wight, a young Hannah— nine and a half years old to be exact— carefully chose her ingredients. A sprig of valerian, a row of foxgloves, a blackberry leaf. And she whispered to herself: “He will hear my call a mile away. He will quote my favourite books. He can see the future in his dreams.”

Jackie walked into the room and watched her sister for a moment. “What are you doing?”

“Summoning up a true love spell called ‘Amas Veritas’,” Hannah replied. She sprinkled dried lavender into her wooden bowl and added a bunch of bluebells to it. “He can flip pancakes in the air. He’ll have a big heart, as big as the world. Too big. And he’ll wear ties all the time.” She added sunflower petals. “And he’ll have golden eyes.”

“I thought you never wanted to fall in love,” Jackie said.

The Baxter women were cursed, any man who fell in love with them was doomed. Or so the family legend said. Was it fate or just an accident that had killed her father? Whatever their mother believed, she’d died of a broken heart. And thus, Hannah promised herself never to fall in love.

But today, she had witnessed a woman begging her aunts to cast a spell on a married man she loved. That woman’s desperation, bordering on madness, had shaken Hannah. There was nothing beautiful or dignified about it. Love dragged you in the mud.

As the woman pierced a dove’s heart, Hannah had decided to take concrete actions to protect herself from love.

“That’s the point,” she explained to her sister. “The bloke I dreamed of doesn’t exist. And if he doesn’t exist, I’ll never fall in love and die of a broken heart.”

She carried her bowl to the balcony on the second floor. The warm night air fluttered the petals, and when she recited the spell, they twirled and rose towards the moon.

*

Hannah coughed up water. Salt stung her throat. Sand chafed her cheek.

“You alright? Miss? Bloody hell, d’you have a death wish?”

With a great effort and a moan of pain, she turned her face towards the voice. A thin man, all scraggly hair and unkempt beard. His tie dangled above her.

The sun came out, piercing the clouds, and illuminated his face. The brown of his eyes shone almost golden.

“How…?” She didn’t have the strength to finish her question.

He helped her to her feet and supported her through the short walk to a small blue house.

As if he’d expected her, there already were towels and blankets in the living room.

“I was folding the laundry,” he explained as he arranged towels over the couch.

She shivered in her bikini, and he promptly draped a knit blanket over her shoulders. Then a second one. He peered into her face— her teeth were chattering— he scrunched up his nose, and covered her legs with a duvet, tucking it tight under her knees and feet.

“What’s your name?”

“Hannah.”

“I’m Hardy… Alec.”

“Thank you, Alec.”

“How are you feeling? You were pretty out of it.”

“I feel… tired.”

“Is there anyone you want to call?”

“I don’t know. Not really.”

Well, there were people she could call, but no one she wanted to. Actually, inexplicably, she wanted to stay right here, in this cozy, seaside shack.

“You can rest here for a while,” he said.

“How did you find me?” she asked.

“I know the harbour master.”

“He came to get you?” That seemed like a strange protocol.

“I heard you calling,” Alec said.

“From here?”

He shrugged and disappeared into a bedroom.

There was something familiar about Alec Hardy that she couldn’t put her finger on.

The files spread on the coffee table told her he was a policeman.

In the full bookcase behind the sofa, she spotted a worn-out copy of Peter Pan and even her first novel. Maybe she’d met him at a book signing. He didn’t seem the type.

Underneath, there was a family portrait, outdoors, at some birthday party. Alec with his daughter and wife. “She looks more like a witch than me,” Hannah mumbled.

Alec had changed into a dark blue jumper, and he tossed another one her way. She’d stopped shivering, but put it on anyway. It smelled of Irish Spring soap.

“The books were there when I moved in,” he said.

“And the family picture?”

“I’m on it, aren’t I?” He offered no further explanation.

She tracked his movements as he prepared two cups of tea in the narrow kitchen. He opened crooked cupboards, searching for saucers, sugar and snacks.

Looking at him was as maddening as having a word on the tip of her tongue.

“Have we ever met?” she asked.

He looked up from the cups he was filling, his eyes wide, and he spilled water from the kettle all over the countertop.

“Shit.” He quickly cleaned up the mess.

He place a cup of tea with two Jammie Dodgers in front of her. “Careful, it’s hot.”

She stirred milk and sugar into it, and the spoon kept spinning much longer than it naturally would. When he noticed it, she put her hand over the mug— she was slipping.

She held the cup in two hands and brought it close to her face, she closed her eyes, basking in its warmth for a moment. The first sip soothed her.

“Are you from Broadchurch?” he asked.

They compared places they’d been to and people they knew, but nothing overlapped. He admitted uncomfortably to appearing in newspapers, but Hannah wasn’t one to keep up with the news. They were complete strangers after all.

Alec was rough around the edges with his scruffy cheeks and sharp nose and blunt questions. She thought of thistles, the floral emblem of Scotland. Still, his actions revealed a genuine concern for her well-being despite his small talk flaws.

“What were you doing out there?” he asked.

“Swimming?”

She took a long sip to dissipate her uneasiness.

“You were very far into the sea. Do you have suicidal thoughts?”

“No! No, don’t worry. Really don’t. I was, er, you know, training for… a swimming competition. Amateur competition. Obviously.”

He quirked an incredulous eyebrow at her excuse and inquired further as only a detective would. Thankfully, he relented when she rubbed her forehead in pain.

If she told him she needed to bathe in the first high tide of the summer equinox to ward off evil, he would laugh in her face.

Hannah always “scanned” her clients to keep the creepy ones away. Somehow, it hadn’t occurred to her to do the same for this handsome man she’d met at a writing workshop. She’d ignored the red flags, chalked it up to his passionate nature. When she finally listened to her fear and tried to break things off, he already knew too much about her to get rid of him easily. She’d had to resort to belladonna and magic.

That bloody spell better have worked because it almost cost her her life.

Thinking back on these events, Hannah decided she wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

“Can I use the loo?”

In the tiny bathroom, she found a dusty candle that might have belonged to the previous tenants. She blew softly on the wick until a flame blossomed. Then she whispered one of the few spells she knew by heart.

The beating of Alec’s heart echoed in her head. There was something off about it. She sensed anger in the irregular beats. But he was not a bad person, on the contrary, his kindness washed over her mind like the gentlest waterfall.

Her skin goose-pimpled.

“He’s a good one.”

She smiled at her reflection in the mirror and then noticed she looked… well, she looked like someone who’d almost drowned.

She asked Alec’s permission to take a shower, and he lent her sweatpants and a police t-shirt.

The hot water and soap made her feel better in an instant.

She noticed— with some satisfaction— the lack of women’s beauty products in the bathroom.

Hannah braided her hair in loose pigtails and rolled the sweatpants’ elastic waistband low over her hips.

When she came out, he stared for a moment. “Looks better on you,” he said, rather gruffly.

*

Hannah had fallen asleep on his couch, and Hardy didn’t know what to do. He stood beside her, hands on hips, contemplating the situation. He couldn’t possibly wake her up and kick her out of his house after what she’d been through today. And to be honest, he enjoyed her presence. He welcomed it even if she snored. He’d been alone for too long.

The last sun rays descended behind the horizon and momentarily alighted her hair.

He’d heard her call for help from impossibly far away. It didn’t make any sense and yet, somehow, it did. He knew why but the explanation vanished as soon as he tried to grasp it.

He thought of Peter Pan.

“You know that place between sleep and awake, that place where you still remember dreaming…?” he whispered.

He knew the quote by heart from reading the book multiple times in his childhood and then to Daisy, but in this moment he could not finish saying it.

“For God’s sake,” he muttered as he adjusted a blanket over Hannah.

*

In the morning, sunlight bounced off the water surface, slipped through the windows and shimmered on the ceiling. Through blurred eyes, Hannah watched it dance above her for a moment.

How could something so beautiful have nearly killed her yesterday?

A healthy fear and respect of nature was what every witch needed. Perhaps it had been a reminder to not abuse her powers.

A delicious scent pulled her out of her musings. Alec, in a grey t-shirt and PJ bottoms, looked at her from the kitchen doorway.

“You hungry?” he asked.

“Famished.”

“Pancakes?”

Hannah smiled, wide and bright, and jumped to her feet. He returned her smile.

As he cooked the pancakes, she set the little table by the window.

“Let’s see if I can still do this,” he said.

He shook the pan until the pancake slid around then flicked his wrist to make it flip. But the pancake landed on the floor, and all of his good mood vanished in an instant.

“Give it another try,” she encouraged him.

This time, a few words whispered in latin made sure the pancake landed in the pan.

They wolfed down the pancakes and washed it down with coffee, between bites, they chatted some more.

Hannah had a gift to make people talk, and there was nothing magical about it. She asked the right questions and gave people time to reply rather than rush to fill the silence. And in desperate cases she had a go-to, self-deprecating, anecdote that usually put people at ease. She didn’t need it with Hardy, she didn’t want to use it, she wanted to just be herself.

She told him about her ex and coming to Broadchurch to escape.

“I suppose it’s the place to get away from exes,” he said.

He told her, in very few words, about his divorce.

“Why Broadchurch?” she asked.

He scratched his cheek and gave this some thought. “I don’t know… there were other towns where I could’ve worked.”

The question really seemed to bother him, he kept frowning as they carried dishes to the sink.

“Well, if you hadn’t been here, I would’ve been in trouble,” Hannah said.

He gripped the edge of the sink and stared as it filled with bubbles. “Aye.”

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No… maybe you’re right. Maybe I was here to save you.”

She leaned closer. Her arm brushed his, and he looked at her, straight at her. An earnest gaze that made her ribcage feel too small for her lungs and heart.

And she realized, she’d experienced attraction before, but never like this, never more than physical.

“Hannah,” he said softly.

She nodded as a lump rose in her throat. She didn’t understand why.

He cradled her face in his palm, his thumb stroked her cheekbone, and Hannah leaned into his touch.

“I think I know you,” he said.

She stepped closer to him and placed her hand on his heart. ��Yes. Somehow.”

“I was waiting…”

“Between sleep and awake.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulled her closer to him like two puzzle pieces fitting together.

She was in a daze. Everything made sense even if it didn’t. In that moment, the only truth worth believing in was that they’d found each other at last.

Both turned their heads at the same time and, with a sigh, pressed their lips together. Shyly, at first, a chaste kiss, until Hannah licked the syrup off his lips. He pressed her against the counter and deepened the kiss, ravenous after a lifetime of waiting. Each caress of tongue and smack of lips brought to light hints and clues, moments, words, images.

They broke the kiss with a sudden gasp.

“My spell.”

“My dream.”

░

Full Peter Pan quote

[intergalacticrp]

NAME :// BLAKE BELLADONNA ORIGIN :// RWBY AGE :// TWENTY-FIVE JOB :// GOALTENDER FOR THE RANGERS FC :// NATASHA LIU BORDIZZO

and I hope for a trace           to lead me back home from this place                     but there was no sound                               there was only me and my disgrace

BIOGRAPHY ://

Menagerie has never had a great reputation, but it’s the only place Blake will never call home. The small planet was first colonized as somewhere for the other planets in the Remnant District  to dump all their outcasts, criminals, and anyone who simply didn’t conform. The leaders of Remnant said Menagerie was a place where all of society’s ‘misfits’ would finally feel like they belonged, that they were trying to help the outsiders, but once all they felt was even more rejected and discarded than they had before. Given minimal supplies, the only plus side to living in Menagerie was that most of the Grimm - monstrous creatures native to the planets of Remnant - were mostly only located in the ocean and already uninhabitable land.

Blake was born around 80 years after Menagerie was officially colonized. Her father, Ghira, was the leader of the White Fang - an equality movement that stood up against the blatant xenophobia her people faced when visiting other planets, Remnant especially. Blake practically grew up in the White Fang, participating in ever protest, rally and boycott she could. The first part of her life were spent fighting (non violently, of course) for equality for her people. Equality seemed so close Blake felt like if she just reached out a bit more she’d be able to grab it, but no matter how many rallies or protests were held, their cries weren’t listened to.

When her father stepped down, a woman who was done with being ignored by Remnant stepped up; Sienna Khan. Her brother had been killed in a mining accident in Atlas - an incident the Schnee Dust Company apologized for, because “who cares about the lives of a ‘few’ underpaid lowlifes from Menagerie?” Needless to say her approach to equality and justice was far less peaceful than Ghira’s. Blake’s entire life had been devoted to the White Fang and she still believed in their cause wholeheartedly, not want to face the reality of the dark road the organization was heading. Her close friend, Adam Taurus, helped with her ignorance to the situation. He supported the more extremist methods being used and quickly rose up through the ranks, keeping Blake by his side as his partner and latter girlfriend.

Adam had always been someone very dear to Blake, and watching him change was heartbreaking. It was gradual - little choices that began to pile up. He told her not worry. At first they were accidents, then it was self-defense. It even got to the point where Blake began to believe what he was doing was right. It wasn’t until they snuck aboard a Schnee Dust Company train Adam planned to destroy - cargo and crew - that Blake was forced to come to terms that the White Fang was no longer a movement for equality, but a terrorist organization. She left him and the group right then and then, refusing to use to skills to aid their violence any longer. The closest planet was Mistral, so Blake concealed the emblem that marked her as a citizen of Menagerie (imprinted on her at birth) and snuck onto a ship leaving for the planet that had helped suppressed her people for decades.

She never stayed in one place for too long. Vacuo was too chaotic and desert-like for Blake’s tastes, Atlas was too military-focused and the most cruel towards Menagerie, and while Mistral was nice enough and easy to blend into, the high numbers of Grim led Blake to Vale, where she lived for two and a half years. While there she began to train to be a huntress, hoping that maybe if she saved enough people, she could undo all the years of hate. But peace never seems to last forever, and Blake was forced to flee the Vale when the White Fang (ignorant of Blake’s location) attacked a base belonging to the Vale Initiative. She was ashamed of her actions - or rather, lack of action, but felt like she had no choice. She wasn’t ready to face her past, or Adam, yet.

So she did what she always does - she ran. Blake smuggled herself to Atlas before using a fake ID and boarding the first ship out of Remnant; this time as a passenger instead of among the cargo. She ended up on an asteroid in a different solar system called The Yen Sid World Power Organization. Blake didn’t plan on staying there for long… but ended up actually sort of liking it. The asteroid was far enough away from Remnant and Menagerie that she felt safe, but not so far that she couldn’t keep herself updated on movements made by the White Fang. She even joined a hockey team called the Rangers as a goalkeeper, surprising herself with her skill at the sport, and because she actually made friends with the her teammates. Though she’s starting to recognize them as second family of sorts, she’s still yet to tell them about her ties to Menagerie and the White Fang; especially since Weiss is the heir to the Schnee Dust Company. Instead she lies that she hails from Mistral, just like the surprising majority of her new team.

But how long can she hide her past? How long can she keep running?

AESTHETIC ://

rebel with a cause. hidden past. smuggling items, people, yourself. cat fur, and the way it feels beneath your fingers. lazy afternoons lost in a book or a patch of sunlight. warm cup of tea cradled in your hands. black boots and bared teeth. tying up your hair with a ribbon, a careful bow. old scars. carrying a knife at all times. little purple flowers. preserving memories, sometimes in photographs. running from your problems rather than facing them head on. sometimes, your past is too much to handle.

MISC ://

born on a small planet called menagerie, blake was practically raised within a group called the white fang. for a long time blake agreed whole-heartedly with their ideals; namely, the fact that they stood up against the blatant xenophobia that her people faced when visiting other planets. when she was older though she began to reject their methods: gaining respect through fear. she officially separated from them (and from her partner, adam) just a few years ago.

blake comes across as cool, reserved, and serious most of the time. though that is true to her personality, there are also different parts of her that come out when she is more comfortable with someone. she is an introvert, preferring to spend time alone reading or engaged in other hobbies. when with friends though, she can show more dry wit and sarcasm, along with being more friendly.

never really intended to play hockey. in fact, she once dreamed of becoming a huntress; everyone knew the stories of those who hunted deadly creatures across the universe. but first she found the space station. it's a place of safety for her. she's been here for a few years now, and has been on the hockey team for nearly a year. it's a great way for her to get out any hints of aggression. there's also the added bonus of it tiring her out so much that she falls asleep easier than she ever has.

prefers tea over coffee. scared of dogs. cannot stand bullies. knows a lot of random facts, particularly about history. good with certain weapons, though a bit out of practice. hasn't been home in years, though she keeps herself updated on movements made by the white fang. tends to neglect her basic needs when she's focused on something. doesn't talk about it a lot, but she's ashamed of herself from running from her past. still runs from her past.

CONNECTION ://

ruby rose & weiss schnee : teammates and friends.

yang xiao long : ruby's sister. friend.

jaune arc : fellow goaltender. partner, in a way.

adam taurus : ex partner. avoid.

sun wukong : someone from her home planet. friend.

AVAILABILITY :// OPEN || TAKEN BY RIKA

[couldnt-kir-less]

“Can’t believe my eyes; how can you be so blind? Is the heart of stone, no empathy inside?”

βḁsιc ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ Name; Adelia nan Medea Alias; Amethyst Dracht Age; Twenty-four Sex/Race; Female with girly bits/Garlean Pureblood Sexuality; Heterosexual Marital Status; Taken

dєτḁιℓ ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ Hair Color; Platinum Blonde Eye Color; Purple Piercings; Ears Tattoos/Scars/Markings; No tattoos. Plenty of light scars from experiments. A good size burn mark on her right side, just above her hip.

substąncε ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ Likes; ♪ Tinkering ♪ Researching ♪ Learning ♪ Music Dislikes; ♪ Bigots ♪ Savages ♪ Being invisible Fears; ♪ Losing her loved ones ♪ That she will be forced back to Garlemald

ℓιfє ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾ Personality; Adelia is most often referred to as a bitch. She has an attitude about her meant to scare people away. As a leader within her unit, she is used to commanding power. Assertive and ambivalent, Adelia is not one to play around when it comes to missions or Magitek. She doesn’t want to have any sort of attachments. However, when she does form a bond with someone, she is incredibly loyal and will do anything to keep those people safe.

Bio; Adelia nan Medea comes from a large family. She is the middle child of seven siblings. Two older brothers, one older sister, two younger sisters, and one younger brother. House Medea is not as well known as some and did not take place in the civil war that happened.

They were loyal to Emperor Solus zos Galvus and rallied with Gaius van Baelsar. Her second eldest brother was lost when Gaius fell to the Bringer of Light.

Her childhood would have been typical if she had not been discovered as a prodigy. Something about Magitek speaks to her and she became proficient at a young age in its maintenance and repair. On top of that, she started to build things: weapons, toys, armor. It did not matter. Because of this, her family shipped her off to the Academy as soon as possible. She had a tutor before that; one whom she outgrew in no time.

She has issues with authority, not because of her place in society but because of her place in her family. The middle child that is brilliant but overlooked. She joined the military as soon as she was of age.

It was there she befriended Crassus rem Sanguis and his son, Aelius. She had met Crassus and his son while in the Academy but did not speak to them. Crassus encouraged her to keep working through the military and with magitek. All while she crushed on his son. She was soon assigned to the XIIIth Legion with him. It was there she flourished and became Primus Architectus Magiteci.

When the events of the Calamity happened, Aelius was stranded in Eorzea. Adelia kept tabs on him with his father as Aelius was not brought home and changed to a covert operations soldier.

On the urging of Crassus and approval from the higher ups, Adelia went to Eorzea under the guise of a Limsan woman training to be a warrior and then into Ishgard to keep tabs on Skysteel. Though her connections in Skysteel, she was able to go to Azys Lla.

She met up with and soon became involved romantically with Aelius in Eorzea.

Currently; Adelia and Aelius have been reassigned to the IIIrd under Zheng. Aelius finally received a promotion and is now a Centurio. 

Adelia is working on Allagan tech and learning to be a sniper from Aegir. It will prove to be an interesting mix.

fąкɛr ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

Significant Relationships;

Rafailleur Sangmarche - Aelius quo Sanguis – The love of her life. Someone she met when she was a teenager, going through the last classes of the Academy. She only met him through Crassus and soon was sneaking out to see him train and work with Magitek as she claimed that he made it sing in a way that no one else can. He is perfect with it. To her, he is everything the Empire should be and he is more Garlean than anyone else she knows. She will do anything and everything to keep him safe.

Crassus rem Sanguis - The father she never had. Befriending him in the military and them joining his unit, he quickly became someone she considered a dear friend, as she did not have many of them growing up. She kept in contact with him as she went to Eorzea and watched over his son. Currently, she is taking his murder harder than what most can see.

Zheng goe Diremite - Leader of the Fustuarium and current superior of Adelia and Aelius. She respects him as much as she did Crassus. It is nearly impossible for her to lie to him. Something that will probably get her in trouble.

Aegir jen Hlerson - The brother she never wanted (actual cousin). One of the more memorable people of the Fustuarium she has met, mainly because he rushed into battle and nearly got himself killed. She believes he is idealistic and that it will get him into trouble one day.

Belladonna nan Slater - One of the few people Ame calls a close friend. They have not been able to know each other long but their friendship is budding and something both of them need.

Aurelia cen Lucius - An adopted daughter. Ame has taken it upon herself to take care of all the Garleans younger than she is in the Fustuarium. Aur being with Aegir makes her head spin and she just hopes all goes well.