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aspoonofsugar · 1 year ago

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Weiss and Jaune = Knight + Queen

Mirror Help me Who am I?

Weiss and Jaune are strong foils (mirrors), who can be analyzed through a specific motif.

They are both Knights (masculine):

And Queens (feminine):

This is made clear also through their respective allusions:

1 -Weiss alludes to Snowhite and plays all the different characters of the story with a specific focus on the Princess and the Prince, which is highlighted since the White Trailer:

Weiss and her inner Prince (Animus), who is corrupted and possessed by her Father

Here, Weiss fights a giant armor, which symbolizes the power her father (the patriarchy) has above her. She is fighting both for her freedom and to get back a possessed part of herself (the Arma Gigas is literally a haunted armor). If she wants to escape Jacques, she has to be her own Prince. In other words, to be crowned queen, she needs to become a knight first.

2 -Jaune alludes to Jeanne d'Arc who was both a maid and a knight. Jaune's story is about him growing into both. He needs to accept his inner maiden to become a proper knight. This is made clear in the Jaunedice's arc (this mini arc really works as Jaune's trailer). There he grows not when he gives in to toxic masculinity, but when he stands up to it:

Jaune performing his first miracle and later on being guided by his Goddess (Anima), who is none other than Pyrrha

Jaune makes progress when he nurtures his most feminine side and shows vulnerability by apologizing and asking for Pyrrha's help. A real man has no fear to show he is also feminine.

In short, both Weiss and Jaune's stories deal with the integration of their feminine and masculine parts, so that they can be full-fledged individuals.

ANIMUS AND ANIMA

Integrating the feminine with the masculine is a psychological process, which is described by Carl Jung with the archetypes of animus and anima:

The animus is the masculine part of a woman

The anima is the feminine part of a man

Each person has naturally both, but society promotes specific gender values and drives people to repress traits culturally associated with the opposite gender. So, to fully be complete a person should integrate the negated parts.

This is the case for both Weiss and Jaune, who are initially trapped in fixed gender roles:

Weiss is the rich spoilt princess. She is forced to adhere to the social role Jacques has chosen for her. She is the Schnee Heiress, which means she should always be classy, perfect and elegant:

Weiss: I'm. Not. Perfect! Not yet...

Jaune is instead the loser boy, who wants to be a knight. He doesn't really fit his gender nor social role. He is a male, but is weak, geeky and odd. He has a legacy of warriors to honor, but can't fight. So, he feels he isn't enough:

Jaune: I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!

Basically they are both trapped in opposite ways. Weiss fits her legacy and stereotype so well people forget there is more to her. Jaune instead doesn't measure up to his ancestors nor to the classical male type, so everybody assumes he is bound to fail. This happens because Weiss and Jaune are victims in different ways of toxic masculinity:

As a girl, Weiss has to obey her father, to suppress her emotions and to be nothing, but beautiful. Think about how Jacques even weaponizes typical feminine traits Weiss has, like her talent at singing.

As a boy, Jaune has to conform to physical prowess and bravado. He has to be big, ripped and cool or else he is no-one. The idea he is not like the other boys is at the root of Jaune's insecurities.

At the same time, Weiss and Jaune are also incredibly immature and project outside the same gender roles they are trying to escape inside. Moreover, they do so specifically with each other:

Weiss: (mockingly) My hero.

This scene summarizes their whole early dynamic. On the one hand Weiss sees Jaune as the loser he is scared to be. She only sees his superficial bravado and misses who he is behind the mask. On the other hand Jaune is attracted to Weiss because he sees her as the perfect princess to his knight. So, he is drawn to the mask.

Even the reason Jaune initially falls for Weiss ties into this:

Weiss: Yeah! And we can paint our nails and try on clothes and talk about cute boys, like tall, blond, and scraggly over there!

Weiss here is mocking both Jaune and Ruby, two people she has misjudged and shows no respect for. She is being cold, superficial and rude. Still, Jaune falls for it and believes Weiss's words. He does because they describe Jaune as he wants to be perceived. So, he runs after Weiss and ignores Pyrrha.

In short, initially Weiss and Jaune can't see neither themselves nor others clearly. Luckily, this starts to change at Beacon.

ICE QUEEN AND VOMIT BOY

Sun: Ruby, Yang, Blake… Ice Queen.

Ruby: Look, I'm sorry! Vomit Boy was the first thing that came to mind.

Weiss and Jaune are given nicknames the moment they arrive at Beacon. This happens because they are both childish and self-centered, so they are called out by others. Specifically, their nicknames are light-hearted ways to criticize their perceived self-importance and the archetypes they are trying to emulate. Weiss is called an ice queen because she is acting as daddy's little princess. Jaune is instead jockingly named vomit boy because he tries too hard to look cool. They are still far away from who they want to become and their friends pick up on this. Luckily, giving them funny names is not all RWBY and JNPR do for Weiss and Jaune. Rather they help the two kids grow. In particular, Ice Queen and Vomit Boy develop in two different and complementary ways:

In volume 1 they learn to see who they are slightly better

In volume 2 they become able to see others with more clarity

Seeing One-Self

At the beginning of their stories Weiss and Jaune are running away from who they are:

I'm the loneliest of all.

Even when I told my parents I was going to Beacon, they told me not to worry if I ended up having to move back home. How depressing is that?

Both have big families, but feel lonely and misunderstood. So, they hope they can have a fresh start at Beacon, but immediately meet unforeseen circumstances:

By this point Weiss and Jaune are pursuing a superficial dream of heroes and monsters. They figure their most perfected selves beside the "right" patner.

On the one hand Weiss wants Pyrrha to be the "knight" to her "princess":

Weiss: This will be perfect! The smartest girl in class combined with the strongest girl in class! Together we will be unstoppable!

She wants someone strong (body) that complements her intelligence (mind). She thinks that in this way she can't fail.

On the other hand Jaune wants Weiss to be the "princess" to his "knight":

Jaune: Don't worry! No need to be embarrassed! So, been hearing rumors about teams! I was thinking you and me would make a good one! What do you say?

He wants someone who is beautiful and looks frail, so he can protect her. He thinks in this way he can appear strong.

Both are wrong obviously. This is why they end up with respectively Ruby and Pyrrha as partners.

Weiss needs to realize what complements mind is not body, but heart. This is why she is paired with Ruby, who lacks physical strength, but has more than enough heart to guide Weiss. Throughout the initiation, Weiss herself has to act as a Knight by saving Ruby from the Nevermore. And later on, she needs to follow Ruby's plan (so Ruby's mind) to take down the Grimm and pass the trial.

Jaune needs to realize a real knight is not physically strong, but is wise (mind) and brave (heart). This is why he ends up with Pyrrha, who is both and challenges him in two different ways. She doesn't fit feminine stereotypes and sees Jaune's value not in his superficial traits, but rather in his willingness to help. Throughout the initiation, Jaune shows this by staying behind to lead others into kiling the Grimm.

So, Ruby and Pyrrha are the ones, who can help Weiss and Jaune grow the most. However, the 2 kids struggle to accept it and enter into a conflict with their respective partners in The Bagde and The Burden and Jaunedice. These 2 mini-arcs are interesting because they do not really add anything to the main plot. Rather, they are episodes which focus on Weiss and Jaune respectively. Once again our wannabe queen and wannabe knight act as perfect foils to each other.

On the one hand Weiss is powerful enough to kill Grimms on her own, but wants to be the Queen giving orders. On the other hand Jaune has gained the title of leader, but wants to be the competent Knight slaining monsters.

In short, they want what the other has and miss what they already are. Why is that so? Because deep down they dislike themselves and can't see they have the seeds for greatness within. They don't need to look outside, but should nurture the inside.

Luckily, they are helped by 2 mentor figures:

Port: So instead of fretting about what you don't have, savor what you do. Hone your skills, perfect every technique, and be not the best leader, but the best person you can be.

Ruby: Because it's not just about you anymore. You've got a team now, Jaune. We both do! And if we fail, then we'll just be bringing them down with us. We have to put our teammates first, and ourselves second. Your team deserves a great leader, Jaune. And I think that can be you.

Port invites Weiss to grow as a person and Ruby reminds Jaune of his duties as a leader. So, Weiss and Jaune step up for the sake of their partners:

Weiss: Ruby, I think you have what it takes to be a good leader. Just know that I am going to be the best teammate you'll ever have!

Jaune: Don't ever mess with my team - my friends - ever again. Got it?

Weiss encourages Ruby to be a good leader and promises her she will be the best teammate ever. She even aknowledges she has always loved bunked beds and makes a small step in integrating with her inner child. Something necessary if she wants to blossom into an adult.

Jaune fights Cardin for Pyrrha's sake and decides to dedicate himself to his role of leader. At the same time, he accepts Pyrrha's help, so he shows vulnerability. In other words, he starts integrating with his feminine side. Something needed to become more mature.

So, by the end of their first semester at Beacon both Weiss and Jaune have come to understand themselves and their roles a little bit better. Still, they have yet a long way to go when it comes to the way they aknowledge others.

What better chance than a dance to work on it?

Seeing Others

When it comes to the dance, Weiss and Jaune find themselves in the same situation of the initiation ceremony. They are locked into "triangles":

Jaune wants to go to the dance with Weiss, who wants to go with Neptune

Pyrrha wants to go to the dance with Jaune, who wants to go with Weiss

They pursue the wrong partner and ignore another person's feelings. In this way they do to another what they lament it is done to them:

Weiss: All my life, boys have only cared about the perks of my last name.

Jaune: It's Weiss… I'm completely head over heels for her, and she won't even give me a chance. She's cold, but she's also incredible. She's smart, and graceful, and talented-- I mean have you heard her sing? I just wish she take me seriously, y'know?

On the one hand Weiss wants to be seen for who she is, not her name. And yet, she refuses to look earnestly at Jaune and doesn't even recognize his feelings as genuine (recognizing someone's feelings doesn't mean to reciprocate them by the way). On the other hand Jaune wants to be taken seriously, but the moment Pyrrha tries to open up to him, he reduces her feelings to a joke:

Jaune: Oh please, if you don't get a date to the dance, I'll wear a dress.

At the same time, both approach love superficially. Jaune has started to really like Weiss as a person, but he is still far from truly seeing the girl in all her complexity. Weiss is instead failing to recognize Jaune's good qualities and is attracted to Neptune's try hard persona:

Neptune: Haven. And I don't believe I've caught your name, snow angel.

The narrative makes it very clear Neptune is just a shallower, but better looking version of Jaune. He is a geek (like Jaune), but calls himself an intellectual. He flirts with every girl that breathes, waaaay more than Jaune does initially. And yet, he looks cooler, so Weiss is attracted by him.

This "double triangle" is solved positively in 2 different ways:

Weiss and Jaune start to display respectively more masculine and feminine traits

Weiss and Jaune learn to see others a little bit better

Weiss plays the part of the knight and invites Neptune to the dance:

Weiss: I know this is a little unorthodox, but… I wanted to ask you something. Would you… like to accompany me to the dance tomorrow?

Jaune plays the part of the maiden and wears a dress to accept Pyrrha's late invite:

Pyrrha: I had no idea you were a dancer. Jaune: Yeah, well, these things tend to happen when you grow up with seven sisters.

On a deeper level, Jaune confronts both Pyrrha (the ideal self he must aim to be) and Neptune (the past self he has outgrown).

Pyrrha: I've been blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise, but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. Everyone assumes I'm too good for them. That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. It's become impossible to form any sort of meaningful relationship with people. That's what I like about you. When we met, you didn't even know my name. You treated me just like anyone else. And thanks to you, I've made friendships that will last a lifetime. I guess, you're the kind of guy I wish I was here with. Someone who just saw me for me.

He realizes he has hurt Pyrrha's feelings and has failed to see her the whole time. At the same time, he calls Neptune out on how he has treated Weiss's feelings:

Jaune: Do you even care about the girls you're hitting on? How they feel about you?

And finally, thanks to his ideal self (Pyrrha), he is able to give his past self (Neptune) a good advice:

Jaune: Then just go talk to her. No pickup lines, no suave moves, just be yourself. I've heard that's the way to go.

In this way, Jaune shows he has grown more mature and crowns his evening by wearing a beautiful dress and proving he is a great dancer (differently from Neptune).

Weiss grows too. She accepts Neptune's apology and thanks to him, she is able to finally see Jaune for who he is:

Weiss: You said you were embarrassed at first. What made you come talk to me? Neptune: You're looking at him. You got some good friends looking out for ya.

She might not reciprocate Jaune's feelings, but Jaune is still her friend and cares about her as a person, not as a trophy. This moment marks an improvement of Weiss's overall dynamic with Jaune and she starts to see him as a close one, even praising him occasionally:

Weiss: Well, he's certainly improved.

This is a top off for Weiss's growth as a less judgemental person. This process starts with Blake and her prejudice against Faunus and goes on with Jaune and her misjudgement of him.

All in all, Weiss and Jaune's months at Beacon are key for the kids' early development:

Weiss grows through Ruby and Blake

Jaune grows through Pyrrha and his team

They keep walking parallel paths and slowly start to aknowledge each other more. Weiss starts to see Jaune not as a loser, but as a person who is trying hard. Jaune start to see Weiss not as a damsel, but as a talented individual with wishes of her own. Similarly, their relationship with their inner selves improves, as well.

By the time of the Vytal Festival, both Weiss and Jaune are making small steps toward who they want to become.

The Vytal Festival: Unsure Knight and Clueless Maiden

Weiss and Jaune's tournament fights display their better qualities. On the one hand Weiss sacrifices herself for Yang. On the other hand Jaune is able to lead his team well. They are both more selfless with a better understanding of their roles in their teams.

This growth is marked by important moments outside the arena.

Weiss meets Winter, who inspires her to branch out a little. This is the catalyst for Weiss's transformation into a knight:

Jaune notices Pyrrha is off and tries to step into an adviser position. Basically, he tries to do what Pyrrha has done for him. He tries to guide her by symbolically playing a more supportive role. Moreover, he tries to help Pyrrha making sense of maidenhood:

Jaune: I guess… I'm just trying to say that… you've always been there for me… even when I didn't deserve it. And I can tell there's something on your mind, so… I don't know. How can I help?

Obviously, they are both still immature. Weiss is dependent on her father and can barely summon a tiny sword. Jaune is ignorant and isn't able to give Pyrrha the right advice. Still, they both try, even if they meet an unforeseen crisis. The Fall of Beacon.

Weiss manages to step in to protect Velvet. She acts as a real Knight in Shining Armor:

Jaune does his best to stand beside Pyrrha, even in her darkest moment:

Jaune: She's right. Whoever was on that microphone… they're the ones that did this. And we have to make sure they don't take anyone else.

Despite this, they both fail in the end. Weiss can't save Beacon and loses her new found home and family. Jaune can't save Pyrrha and loses the girl he loves. So, after so much development and growth Weiss and Jaune wake up to discover it still isn't enough. So, the finale pushes them back in the roles they have tried to escape so desperately.

Weiss is brought back under her father's thumb. Jaune is shoved into a locker, forced to fly away like a loser. Weiss is once again daddy's little princess, while Jaune is once again a wannabe knight, who couldn't save the girl.

SNOWHITE AND JEANNE

Ren: Well that embarrassment - that desire to go back and tell yourself not to be so stupid - that just proves you're not the same person you used to be. You're smarter, you're kinder, you're stronger, and you're not done growing yet. None of us are.

The Mistral arc marks a metaphorical growth spurt for both Weiss and Jaune. This development manifests in the volume 5 climax, where their stories intersect:

This scene is a culmination of their respective developments and ties with both their allusions:

Snowhite dies, but is resurrected by the Prince

Jeanne D'Arc performs a mircacle and brings back a person from the death

So, it is clearly very important symbolically, but what does it mean for Weiss and Jaune's characters, specifically?

1- Weiss and Jaune overcome two fake Maidens

Vernal and Cinder are the two fake Maidens of the Mistral arc, as the opening of volume 5 suggests:

Vernal is set up as the Spring Maiden and Cinder is set up as Raven's biggest foe. And yet, neither of them lives up to expectations. On the one hand Vernal is just a red herring, while Cinder isn't Raven's true opponent, but Yang is.

At the same time, Vernal and Cinder are Weiss and Jaune's opponents during the Battle of Haven. Interestingly, they both challenge the kids about their true identities. Who are they really?

Vernal: Let's see what the Schnee name really means.

Cinder: Who are you again?

Vernal mocks Weiss by stating she is nothing outside her name and Cinder sneers at Jaune by telling him he is a nobody. These are Weiss and Jaune's biggest fears. Weiss is scared her only value is her Schnee name, whereas Jaune is terrified of being a loser. In short, both Vernal and Cinder attack Weiss and Jaune's egos and leave them shattered:

Vernal physically breaks Weiss's aura, while Cinder psychologically destroys Jaune by targeting Weiss, just like she did with Pyrrha. Vernal and Cinder's objective is really to reduce Weiss and Jaune to nobodies. And yet, they fail. That is because the self is not found in physical strength or power, but rather comes from inside:

Yang: You might be powerful, but that doesn't make you strong.

In this battle Vernal and Cinder really symbolize Weiss and Jaune's illusory sense of selves. Their ugly personas. This is why they are both fake. Fake maidens masked with strength and confidence. And yet, they are deep down made of lies.

Vernal derides Weiss because of her dependency on the Schnee Family. And yet, Vernal herself has dedicated her whole existence to the Branwen Tribe and even changed her name for Raven's sake. In other words, she has reduced herself to her Spring Maiden persona. She is the one, who is nothing more than a name. And a false one, to boot.

Cinder laughts at Jaune's wannabe hero performance, but a lucky strike by her opponent is enough to derail her. An inexperienced fighter like Jaune grazing her breaks Cinder's whole facade and shows the ugly psychological wounds she hides behind a mask.

This is why Vernal and Cinder defeat Weiss and Jaune, but ultimately fail and actually destroy each other. Vernal dies by Cinder's hand, despite how strong and smart she is. Cinder is unmasked by Raven and falls because of Vernal's final desperate attack, which ensures Cinder's defeat.

Weiss and Jaune instead are reborn thanks to each other. Weiss is physically saved by Jaune, whereas Jaune starts to psychologically heal through helping Weiss. Weiss unlocks a new summon, while Jaune discovers his semblance. In the end, Weiss and Jaune don't need to play by Vernal and Cinder's rules.

Weiss's strength doesn't lie in her individual skill, but in the relationships she has built with others. She doesn't have to survive on her own because she is full of loved ones ready to help her shine. And she can help them too.

Jaune is heroic not because he is a lonely warrior slaying villains, but because he is a good friend always ready to help. His value lies in his wish to protect others. Moreover, he can rely on them when he needs.

Weiss and Jaune's real selves are in their hearts, which are growing stronger. That is why they lose the physical fight, but win the spiritual one. They ultimately succeed, as Weiss's Queen Lancer is key to saving Haven and Jaune's Aura Amp is fundamental in saving Weiss. Weiss protects a Kingdom, while Jaune protects a girl.

2- Weiss and Jaune integrate with their animus/anima

Weiss and Jaune embrace their true selves by reconciling their masculine and feminine parts. Once again this process is conveyed through their allusions.

Our Snowhite dies and is reborn twice. The first time, Jacques (the Evil Queen) kills her psychologically by taking away her Heiress title and imprisoning her in her room (the glass coffin). Weiss is able to escape by developing her masculine side (the Knight).

She successfully draws energy from her animus (her inner Prince) and uses this new found resourcefulness to escape. She leaves behind her passiveness (feminine) and grows more active (masculine). This is why her summon symbolically breaks the window and immediately after Weiss makes the choice to leave.

The second time, Cinder (another Evil Queen) kills her physically, but Jaune (the Prince) saves her. As a result, Weiss wakes up and is crowned Queen.

Becoming Queen in fairy tales means you have reached self-actualization. So, Weiss has become her true self, which is a combination of feminine (queen) and masculine (lancer). The Queen Lancer then symbolizes Weiss reconciling with her anima (feminine part) by making it freer, more genuine and stronger through her animus (masculine part).

Our Jeanne performs a miracle and has a vision. He brings Weiss back from the death in Haven. By doing so he physically plays the part of the Knight in Shining Armor. Still, he succeeds by integrating his animus with his anima. As a matter of fact he lets go of fighting and killing (masculine) and takes up healing (feminine):

Later on, he needs spiritual guidance and finds it in his anima (Pyrrha). So, he has a symbolic "vision" of her in front of her statue:

Obviously, the woman is probably Pyrrha's mother, but it doesn't matter. The whole scene is framed up as aetherial and ambiguous because thematically Pyrrha's soul points Jaune toward the right path. So, Jaune is guided by his feminine side.

Weiss and Jaune's journey in Mistral leads them to face their fears and let go of their personas. By doing so, they succeed at integrating their animus and anima. The end result is that they grow up.

Weiss blooms into a Queen:

Weiss's royal dress is blue (melted ice) and has snowhite-like puff sleeves.

Jaune becomes a Knight:

Jaune's outfit keeps his red details and adds more gold to it.

Upon their arrival in Atlas, they are not Ice Queen and Vomit Boy anymore, but genuine articles.

QUEEN AND KNIGHT

Right now I’m just a bit surprised Cuz I feel just fine And I might just touch the sky

The sun is shining in the sky The birds are smiling so am i I’m kicking ass in every way Think this change is here to stay It’s feeling like a brand new day

In Atlas, our Queen and Knight live their best lives.

Weiss arrests her father and reconnects with her estranged family. She becomes the Queen of the Schnee family. Jaune instead supports everyone, meets the admiration of civilians and is in generally successful. He becomes a perfect Knight in Shining Armor.

Even when the situation gets dire they both maintain a mature attitude. They are not touched by the Divide and their major conflict lies rather with a family member (sibling):

Winter: You're not leaving me. I'm giving you a head start.

Ren: You cheated your way into Beacon!

Winter and Ren oppose Weiss and Jaune out of repression and frustration. And yet, Weiss and Jaune's reaction is of empathy and understandment:

Weiss: Don’t worry, they’re sisters. Sometimes sisters just have very different ideas about what’s right.

Jaune: We’re all under a lot of stress right now. I used to push people away too.

They never doubt their loved ones and when Winter and Ren come around there is no need for apologies. Weiss and Jaune simply welcome them back with warmth.

In short, our Queen and Knight are among the characters who have grown the most, so they often come up with solutions. For example, Jaune offers a way to overcome the Divide from a practical point of view:

Jaune: Okay. Okay… Then let’s go for both. Get Amity up and running and evacuate Mantle.

Weiss is instead the one to state the theme outloud before the climax:

Weiss: Trust is a risk

This development is precisely why they both get to shine in the final battle.

On the one hand Weiss holds it together while her team is in disarray after Yang's fall. Ruby is traumatized and caught up in a fight with Neo, while Blake temporally loses it. Weiss keeps on facing Cinder alone and does her best to protect Penny and the relic.

On the other hand Jaune keeps a level-head and manages to evacuate the civilians only to join the fray at the very end. He reads the situation correctly and kills Penny when there is no other choice.

Weiss and Jaune have grown into who they want to be in the beginning. This is why they are the last fighters standing. And yet, despite all their training and maturation, they still fail. They face an Evil Queen (Cinder) and are defeated when they are at their strongest. Weiss is a true Queen fighting for her home and Jaune is a true Knight fighting for the people. And yet, they are crushed and fall. Just like at Beacon.

Once again, Weiss fails to protect a Kingdom:

Once again, Jaune fails to protect a Maiden:

At the same time, they believe the other can somehow succeed, even if they don't:

Weiss: Maybe… Jaune and Winter were able to get them out, despite… everything… despite us…

Jaune: I don’t know where the others are, but… Weiss will give us time!

Weiss hopes Jaune and Winter (aka her ideal) save the relics. Jaune hopes Weiss can buy him and Penny time, like Pyrrha (aka his ideal).

In short, Weiss and Jaune grow into their ideal selves, but still lose. Not only that, but they keep on projecting their ideals on others. And yet, these others also fail. So, what to do? The only choice is to let go of unreachable perfect paragons.

FALLEN QUEEN AND RUSTED KNIGHT

Weiss: I am a citizen of a fallen Kingdom and an heir to nothing. I will not be defined by my name because I will be the one to define it. I am Weiss Schnee, and I am a Huntress!

NeoCat: You were never the brave knight either! Just more fairytale nonsense!

Weiss and Jaune's journey in the Ever After is about letting go of their Queen and Knight idealized self-images. In this way they can truly accept who they are. This is difficult at first because they are full of self-hate and regret:

Weiss: But it wasn't enough! We hatched a crazy plan that put a whole kingdom at risk, and we don't even know if we saved the Relics...

Jaune: I’m trying so hard to save them… I stopped them from becoming what they needed to be. I was being selfish because I… I wanted the rush of rescuing someone and I got that here.

Still, they both work through it in 2 ways.

They face their traumas again:

Weiss: I am so tired of leaving places in ashes…

Jaune: On that bridge… I was the only one that could do it! I was the ONLY ONE! And I… And now I have to live with that forever… In here or back home…

They change their dynamic with Ruby, who they put on a pedestal.

Specifically, Ruby becomes a paragon for both Weiss and Jaune during the Mistral arc. There, Weiss learns to be emotionally vulnerable with her partner. Jaune instead grows to admire Ruby's optimism and hopeful self.

So, after the fall of Atlas, both Weiss and Jaune go back to Ruby. Weiss lets out all her troubles, while Jaune dives after Crescent Rose and proudly gives it back.

However, Ruby is in no condition to play Weiss and Jaune's hero. This shows and it unnerves them, who grow progressively more irritated with Little Red:

Weiss: Hurry! People are counting on us!

Jaune: I know you may not care about protecting this village, but you could at least help your friends when they’re in danger.

Until Ruby herself snaps at the both of them. Interestingly, it is Weiss's demand that Ruby consoles Jaune, which sets her off. Moreover, throughout her monologue, Ruby calls Weiss out on her dependency on her:

Ruby: What about me? “No time”, right? “Gotta get home!” “Gotta help Jaune!” Gotta find someone who isn’t just going to screw everything up!

And she lashes out against Jaune's hero complex:

Ruby: I’m sorry, is this a bad time? Are we supposed to be mourning Jaune’s make-believe friends?!

She pintpoints both their flaws and then runs away. It is Ruby's outburst, though, which wakes up Weiss and Jaune.

Weiss finally realizes Ruby's pain and empathizes with her. Her words clearly have an impact on Jaune too:

Weiss: Ruby has always been the one to get us through the hard times. We say things like “We believe in you”, “We can count on you”. I know we mean well, but…

They both let go of their idealization of Ruby, which in turns helps them with their own struggles:

Weiss: I think you’re asking too much of yourself. We’ve been telling ourselves that failing means we’re no good. But I can guarantee even the best Huntsmen in history… they’ve all lost. But they were still incredibly brave… and good.

In front of a genial ruby, Weiss and Jaune manage to move forward through each other.

Jaune is spiritually guided and shown empathy by Weiss. Weiss instead starts healing psychologically by helping Jaune. In a sense, this is a parallel and an inversion of their shared moment in volume 5. There Jaune finds himself strong enough to cure Weiss. Here Weiss finds herself wise enough to teach Jaune. Both are in a self-hate spiral, but then realize they are better than they think by saving the other. At the same time, this moment also calls back Jaune's "vision" in Lost. There Jaune is shown the way by a Pyrrha stand-in. Here Weiss steps into the role of spiritual adviser.

After spending the whole volume looking for someone to guide her, Weiss discovers she can be the guide. After spending the whole volume wanting to be the hero, Jaune realizes he is the one that needed help the whole time.

They both learn the main theme of the volume:

Jaune: Maybe that Cat was right… Maybe I just needed to accept it. It’s not a place you go.

They reach acceptance of who they are. Both their good traits and their negative traits. They accept they did their best, but also that they lost. And once they do, they become able to better accept others, as well:

Jaune: I think I get it. This is how we got here, or… why the Tree brought us here. Acceptance.

Weiss: We've done everything we can. Now it's up to Ruby. Whatever happens next… we have to welcome that.

Not only do they let go of their idealized self-images, but of Ruby's too. This is why they are ready to welcome her, no matter what. Strengths and limits, alike.

Thanks to their inner development, they both get to make another step into self-actualization. This growth is shown symbolically in the finale . Weiss is finally able to summon a full Nevermore, which combines all her previous glyphs (so it is symbolic of the self). Jaune accepts Alyx's hand and goes back to his real self through her (he goes from iron to mercury). These are glimpses of who Weiss and Jaune are going to finally become.

SOPHIA AND HERMES

Curious Cat: Looking at you, wise huntress.

Alyx: Maybe it’s time for a change, to be the kind of man you always wanted to be.

So, who are Weiss and Jaune going to be at the end of their journey? It is still too soon to say, but I would not be surprised if they were to become Sophia and Hermes to each other.

Who are Hermes and Sophia? They are the embodyments of a perfected animus and a perfected anima. In short, by the end of their psychological development, a woman should integrate with Hermes and a man should integrate with Sophia. Personally I think (wish) Weiss is stepping in the role of Sophia for Jaune, while Jaune is stepping in the role of Hermes for Weiss. Volume 9 might have given symbolic hints of this.

Weiss is directly associated with wisdom, which is what Sophia means.

Jaune goes from iron to mercury through Alyx and Mercury is just another way to call Hermes. Moreover, one of the symbols of Hermes in alchemy is a stag and well... Juniper resembles one.

Now, this final integration can be romantic (my preference) or platonic/individualistic (if they chicken out). What is sure is that it's going to happen, one way or another. It is just the cherry on top on a animus/anima story.

Snowhite and the Animus

Snowhite is the story of a child growing up. The first step in self-actualization is to stop identifying with the Mother, so the mirror image changes. This transformation generates an inner conflict. On the one hand there is the side who wants to grow up (Snowhite), on the other hand there is the side who doesn't wanna change (the Evil Queen). It is only by conquering the Evil Queen (the shadow), that Snowhite can truly become herself.

And how does she do it? She succeeds through an integration with her animus (masculine side):

The King is absent and doesn't help Snowhite

The Hunter appears and helps Snowhite

The Dwarves give Snowhite a home

The Prince saves Snowhite

As you can see, Snowhite's story is full of male characters and each new one is more helpful than the one before. This is because all these characters are representations of Snowhite's interiority and of her strenghtening animus. It is initially possessed, but then it progressively blooms until it saves the protagonist.

Now, this is just Weiss's story in a nutshell:

Willow is absent and Weiss's animus is possessed (The Arma Gigas she fights in the White Trailer)

Winter helps her and inspires Weiss to pursue her career as a Huntress (After her visit Weiss summons a part of her Knight)

Team RWBY welcomes Weiss and become her adoptive home and family (Weiss becomes herself through them)

Only the Prince is missing and it will probably be Jaune (he already is in volume 5). Wait, aren't all these characters women? Yes, they are because Weiss's fairy tale is all genderbent except her. So, why should Weiss's Prince be Jaune? Because in his case, he is the genderbent one :P

Jaune can be Weiss's Prince (again platonically or romantically) only if he fully blooms into Jeanne first. He can't be a real Knight, if he doesn't become a Maiden.

The Four Stages of Anima

Jaune's journey through the anima is well conveyed through 4 stages, which stand for archetypical female figures. Each one represents a different level of maturity:

Eve is the mother - The boy has no romantic attachment and sees the woman as a source of protection and nourishment

Helen is the seductress - The boy feels romantic attraction and sees the woman as a talented individual, but pays no attention to her spiritual or inner life

Mary is the virgin - The boy fells mature love and sees the woman as a paragon of virtue, but pays no attention to her negative traits

Sophia is wisdom - The boy is ready for a relationship with a woman as an equal partner and sees the feminine as a source of wisdom with no need to objectify the woman anymore

This scale describes Jaune's relationship with the feminine perfectly:

Eve is Pyrrha - she nurtures and protects him as a mentor and Jaune feels initially no attraction to her

Weiss is Helen - she is Jaune's first crush and he grows enough to see her as a talented person, but can't understand her inner world

Mary is Pyrrha - she becomes Jaune's guide and the embodyment of heroism and virtue

Only Sophia is missing and I think she will be Weiss. In general, though, these phases describe Jaune's general approach to women and how it changes. He arrives at Beacon looking for a girlfriend because that is what a man should do, which in itself is a very childish behavior. Then he grows to see the girls around him as powerful individuals, but he can't go behind the surface. This is true for Weiss, but also for Pyrrha, whose struggles he ignores. After her death, Pyrrha becomes an ideal, but she isn't the only one. For example, Jaune believes Weiss and Ruby can save Pyrrha from Cinder and later on he keeps idealizing them. In volume 9, he learns to let go of his idealization and to see others as their own people. He is stepping into Sophia (wisdom).

MIRROR MIRROR

I looked in the mirror And I gotta say It’s been a long long time Since I felt this way

Weiss and Jaune go through perfect mirror journeys, which are about recognizing others to see their own selves and vice versa. This is why Weiss's mirror mirror motif works so well for them.

They don't know who they are (mirror tell me who am I?)

They realize they dislike their current selves (mirror tell me who is the loneliest of all? I am the loneliest of all)

They work to change (mirror I'll tell you something, I might change it all)

They overcome their narcisism rooted in self-loathing (I'm shattering the mirror that keps me split in pieces)

Now that they can see who they are better, the next step is to probably see others more clearly. This is the secondary theme of the volume, after all: empathy.

Ruby breaks Summer's pedestal and as a result she can see herself better. In turn, this makes her able to look at others in a new light:

Weiss and Jaune do the same. They break Ruby's pedestal and show empathy and forgiveness for themselves and her. Still, this is framed as just the beginning. The theme of empathy is probably gonna be explored in later volumes. This is true for both Ruby's arc and Weiss and Jaune's stories.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the next mirror mirror song is a conversation not with the mirror, but with another person? A person that is a mirror, but not because stuck inside it like Weiss in the beginning. A person, who is a mirror because every person can be a mirror of another if looked at with empathy. And this is what beating the mirror really means. Not to look at ourselves through it, but to look at ourselves through others. And to accept them. And to accept us.

#rwby #white knight #weiss schnee #jaune arc #rwby meta #my meta #rwby theory #sorry for this post's lenght but i love their foiling very very much and wanted to explore it fully

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jackoshadows · 2 years ago

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Why do you think there’s such a strong fixation on Jonsa? I watched the whole series and didn’t see it. I just finished A Game of Thrones and didn’t see it. I’m a big supporter of Jonerys (although I don’t think Kit and Emilia had very good on-screen chemistry but that was partially due to a bad script) but I’m very curious about the mindset going on with people who enjoy other Jon pairings. I can at least see where people are coming from with Jonrya even if I’ll never be able to see them as anything but siblings. They’re very close and think of each other often but at least in book one, Jon and Sansa’s relationship is non-existent. I guess Jon and Dany’s is even more non-existent, but the show at least planted a seed of what could be, and the same cannot be said of Jonsa

I think you are the nonnie who send me the Dany ask and I always hesitate to answer these (rather sensible and intelligent) asks because you have not finished reading the books and I hate to spoil the story for you 😂!

Have you read Pride and Prejudice? The equivalent of the Jonsa ship would be like shipping Darcy and Jane because one likes Jane Bennet and then argue that Darcy actually falls for sweet, gentle Jane and not Elizabeth and that Darcy/Jane is canonical. And if we disagree with this it’s because we are sexist Jane haters because Jane’s a girly girl. Absurd right? That’s pretty much the absurdity of Jonsa for book readers.

So why is Jonsa so popular? Briefly, Jonsa is the result of Sansa stans not liking the canon suitors the author has given the character in the books for various reasons. They want Arya's canonical relationship with Jon possibly turning into a romance for their favorite character Sansa or they want Jon and Sansa falling in love instead of any future romance between Jon and Dany. Which is why 80% of their blogs is devoted to tearing down Dany and Arya and involves an unrecognizable mess of a character they call Jon Snow.

Sansa is also the typical beautiful girl who is into romance and songs and fashion and knights, feasts and tourneys - that’s why she gets shipped with everyone. I think she’s the most shipped character in this fandom. And that’s always been a thing since this series started in the nineties. SanSan or Sansa/Sandor Clegane (The Hound) was one of the most popular ships of the series and GRRM has even commented on it.

[As an aside the funny thing is that GRRM is trying to subvert tropes and also write romance for the non conventional girls like Brienne and Dany and Arya (Lyanna is the equivalent of Helen of Troy and Arya is a mini Lyanna) and still this fandom disparages girls like Arya as being ‘male-coded’, ugly and undesirable.]

With the show, they totally ignored SanSan (Which makes sense considering Rory McCann was like 40 or something on the show and Turner is so young - the show cannot go where the books do in terms of these relationships) and instead gave Sansa the story of another tertiary character in the North. Combining characters meant that she got dumped into Jon Snow’s plot and now all of a sudden we have these two good looking actors Sophie Turner and Kit Harington sharing scenes and Jonsa is born (Despite their characters fighting and arguing in 90% of their scenes, and Sansa lying and betraying Jon).

Benioff and Weiss’ Sansa fanfiction meant that Sansa now gets all of Arya’s story beats and narrative themes on the show. And instead of treating it like a crack ship/AU fanfiction, they try to shove this ship into the books and attack anyone who tries to point out how absurd this ship is. And despite GRRM insisting that his story is different and going in different directions, they think that the garbage writing of the show is going to happen in the books

I would also like to point out that, from my experience in fandom, most Jon Snow fans don’t ship Jonsa. And I am talking about fans who genuinely like book Jon Snow. Not the one’s who claim to be a Jon fan and their blog is 90% about Sansa.These two characters have nothing to do with each other in the books!

Jonsa is a Sansa ship for and by Sansa stans. Jon is simply a prop there for Sansa to become QITN, get a direwolf Ghost, get her disney princess happy ending with ten babies. Their version of Jon Snow has nothing in common with the book character.

To refer back to my original P&P comparison, to make Darcy fall in love with Jane one would have to change Darcy’s entire personality. If Darcy falls for Jane’s beauty and gentle nature instead of Elizabeth’s wit and intelligence, then that’s no longer Pride and Prejudice is it? That’s an AU version of Pride and Prejudice. Or fanfiction based on Pride and Prejudice.

A Darcy who falls in love with Jane Bennet is not the Darcy in the story Austen is writing. In the same way a Jon Snow who falls in love with Sansa Stark is not the Jon Snow in the story George R R Martin is telling.

For Jonsa shippers their Jon Snow will be repulsed by Arya Stark and does not care for her, only helps out his friends because they are stand ins for Sansa, is shallow and self-loathing because he thinks he’s not good enough for beautiful Sansa who ignored him because he’s a bastard and craves for the approval of the woman who abused him, Catelyn Stark.

In fact, the Jonsa fandom came up with one of the worst, most nonsensical iterations of Jon Snow I have ever seen in all my years in this fandom. Let me introduce you to the horror that is Political!Jon. You can google it.

Political!Jon is Littlefinger 2.0, a sociopath who will pretend to love Daenerys to get her dragons, deceive her and then kill her, all his true love Sansa Stark can become QITN. And oh, because he does not want his true love to take care of any undesirable bastards, political!Jon will also give Dany some moon tea to abort her baby - that’s abortion!Jon. And Jonsa shippers think that Jon Snow seducing a rape victim, stealing her children (the dragons), aborting her baby and then killing her for Sansa is all so romantic!!

And if not Jon Snow, then it will be Arya who will kill Dany. That’s the whole point of the sword Jon gave Arya - it’s not about their bond and their love and being symbolic of home and identity for Arya. No, Needle is so that Arya can kill Dany and Jon and Sansa can get together! Arya will then turn into a Jonsa cheerleader and fuck off into nowhere on a ship.

I have always compared the Jonsa shippers to the flat earthers of this fandom. Some of the most ridiculous and absurd theories have come out of that side of the fandom and debating with them is like debating with a wall. One can smush all the book text and quotes in their face and they will still be there talking about how Jon Snow loves Sansa because some snow fell on her face in one of the chapters....

#asks #anti Jonsa

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hamliet · 2 years ago

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Hi! What do you think comes after this volume? Which characters are taking focus in Vacuo in your opinion?

I think Volumes 10-11 will be set in Vacuo, and Volume 12 will wrap things up in Beacon.

I think Winter needs a teeny bit of focus with Weiss helping her complete her arc, but we're talking like, a moment. Sun and Neptune may get mini-arcs, but emphasis on mini. I think Qrow's arc needs to continue, since we last saw him frantic and thinking he'd seen his nieces die. Cinder needs to keep spiraling, and I suspect Yang may have to confront Raven (or that happens at Beacon; I lean Beacon but we'll see). Nora needs focus as we have to discover who "Just Nora" is. Ruby will also clearly get a lot of focus, since I think her decision in the finale of Volume 9 will be to be herself... but she has to determine what that means going forward. It's also clear Ruby's arc's central question--who am I--mimics Oscar's, so Oscar gets focus too.

That said, as the main center of focus in Atlas was Penny, I think the main center of focus here will be Mercury (and Emerald). Why? Well, metal stages and alchemy, but also because almost every single one of other arcs we need can all be further developed in commentary on the plot point of saving Mercury.

Ren and Nora are clear parallels to Emerald and Mercury; hence, Nora discovering who "Just Nora" is might well mimic Emerald and Mercury discovering who they are as individuals now that they are on opposite sides (plus Emerald still hasn't fully cemented her bond with Team RWBYJNOR). Also, Nora's endgame is clearly being with Ren, because with him she can truly be herself, and I suspect that will comment on Emerald and Mercury's bond too.

Plus, the whole "identity" question is certainly a theme in the arcs of Oscar, Ruby, and Jaune. For Ruby specifically... with Neo in Volume 9 we're just starting to explore what it means to save a villain. Mercury is set up to be saved. And, I do think Ruby will save Cinder from her Grimm arm via her silver eyes probably close to the end of the story, and that this will be a climactic moment of unparalleled importance. But Ruby's not there yet, not even close to it.

Mercury's definitely going to have major internal conflict after Emerald left, because they clearly love each other (whatever that love is, romantic or platonic). He's never had a person he cares about be on opposites sides with him before, so now? What does he do? And what obligation does Emerald or her new allies have to try to understand him and save him?

These are all questions that could lay a valuable foundation for Ruby eventually deciding to save Cinder not because she's earned it, but because Cinder is a human and human beings do not deserve to end up like Summer.

(Clearly also I think the question of Ruby and Summer's influence will be huge in Vacuo, which will also eventually tie in to Yang and Raven; I also think Emerald and Mercury's relationship with Cinder will foil Ruby-Summer and especially Yang-Raven).

Lastly, I think Qrow's arc offers a lot of potential in regards to Mercury. Qrow and Mercury are foils, and they are both also prominent foils of one Tyrian Callows, who is the absolute worst and whom I expect to die at the end of Vacuo's arc like Watts did in Atlas. Mercury has never had a positive mentor figure in his life, and particularly not a positive male mentor figure. Qrow would be poised perfectly to take a broken kid who has been horribly used by his mentors (see both Qrow's being seen as a tool by the Branwen Tribe and Oz turning Qrow into a bird; Mercury lost his semblance to his father and is being manhandled by Tyrian) under his wing (heh, pun intended) and help him. (Plus, I honestly suspect Mercury's semblance will have something to do with wings...)

#ask hamliet #mercury black #emerald sustrai #emercury #i guess #rwby meta #rwby theory #qrow branwen #tyrian callows #ruby rose #cinder fall

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blackhakumen · 1 year ago

Text

Mini Fanfic #1119: How to Train a Schnee (RWBY)

12:56 p.m. at Schnee Mansion's Training Room.........

Whitney runs away in fear from a rampaging, knight like robot chasing him around the room as it's very loud sounding alarm system and the words "Exterminate" starts playing out repeatedly.

Fortunately, for the youngest and currently only male Schnee family member, he's find himself a nearby hiding spot in form of a wall as he quickly hid himself behind it and tries his hardest not to making any form of sound to catch the bot's attention all while silently calming himself down at the process.

Whitley: (Damnit, Whitney, what are you doing? You can't sit afford to sit and hide in here forever!) (Tightens his Grip of the Rapier he's Holding onto as He Starts Getting Himself Up From the Floor) It's high time you ceased your cowardly thoughts, man up.......) (Steps Out From his Hiding Spot and Rushes Towards the Robot) (And bring great honor to the Schnee Family's-)

'SMACK'

Whitley: (Covers his Face and Let's his Weapon Drop to the Floor as He Winces in Pain by the Punch to the Nose the Robot Has Given Him) AH! YOU GODDAMN HEAPS OF METAL! (Moves his Habds Away From his Face) YOU PUNCHED ME IN THE-

'SMACK'

Whitley: (Covers his Face Up in Pain Again) AHH! YOU DID IT AGAIN-

'SMACK'

Whitley: QUIT-

'SMACK'

Whitley: PUNCHING ME-

'SMACK'

Whitley: IN THE FACE!.......(Slowly Moves his Gabds Away From his Face-)

'SMACK'

Whitley: PISS!

The robot then grabs Whitley's and judo toss him towards the other side of the room, leaving him even more in pain. All hope seems to lost, until a trail of ice comes out of nowhere and freezes the robot solid. Whitney turns to see Culprit was none other than his older sister, Weiss Schnee.

Weisa: Ruby! Oscar! Now!

Ruby and Oscar jumps in on cue to the deliver the finally blow with their respective weapons, turn the now frozen robot into sparkling dust. It never stood a chance.

Whitley: .............('Sigh') So much for honoring the family's name.

Weiss: Whitley! Oh my gosh....(Sprints Over and Helps Her Little Brother Back Up on his Feet) Are you okay?

Whitley: (Brushes the Dust Off of Him) Other than my nose and pride feeling broken, I'll be just fine.

Weiss: ('Sighs in Relief') Thank goodness.......(Angrily Slaps Whitley's Arm) WHAT. DO. YOU. THINK. YOU'RE. DOING. FIGHTING. A. LEVEL. FIVE. ROBOT. WITHOUT. PROPER. TRAINING. FIRST!?

Whitley: (Starts Slapping Weiss's Hand Away, Engaging Himself into a Sibling Slap Fight) Will you cut that already!? That robot has given me enough pain and embarrassment for one day!

Weiss: Well, maybe if you weren't such a reckless DOLT, I wouldn't have to set you straight! Ow! Quit slapping me, you twerp!

Whitley: You slapped me first, you received my WRATH! Ow!

Ruby: (Watches the Schnee Arguing and Slapping Each Other's Hands with her Boyfriend While Letting Out a Nostalgic Sounding Sigh) I remember the times Yang and I have our own slap fights~

Oscar: (Turns to Ruby) Who won the most out of the two of you?

Ruby: Yang. Her slaps used to stings more than her punches believe it or not.

Oscar: I wouldn't even be surprised if that turns out to be the case.

Weiss: You quit it!

Whitley: You quit it!

Weiss: No, YOU-

??????: Whitley!

Whitley suddenly gets pulled into a tight, loving hug by his mother, Wilow Schnee.

Wilow: My sweet, Baby Snowflake, are you okay?~

Ruby: (Starts Snickering Along with Oscar) Baby Snowflake?~

Whitley: ('Sighs Heavily in Embarrassment') Yes, mother, I am fine now.

Wilow: Oh thank goodness. (Gives Whitley a Kiss on the Cheek Before Pulling Him Away and Softly Glares at Him) What were you thinking fighting that dangerous robot alone like that?

Weiss: (Crosses her Arms While Glaring at Whitley) Yes, brother, explain to us why you thought facing off against a fifth level robot without any form of fighting experience and training, was remotely a good idea on your part?

Whitley: (Gives Weiss a Deadpinned Look on his Face) Didn't you already asked me that question not too long ago?

Weiss: (Glare Turns into Comical One) I did, Einstein! And you STILL haven't answered the question!!

Wilow: ('Sigh') Children, please. We won't get anywhere if you keep bickering with one another.

Oscar: You know, I've never take you as someone who would be interested in combat, Whitley.

Ruby: Yeah. ('Gasps') Unless......(Smiles Excitedly as her Eyes Begins to Sparkle) Are you training to become a huntsmen and huntresses just like us!?~

Whitley: Lower you enthusiasm, Rose, I'm not interested in joining your little club. I've been taking interest in your Grimm related fights as of late, and since there's no telling what will happen in the foreseeable future going forward, so I took it upon myself to study the basics and train myself into becoming combat-ready. (Starts Blushing a Little While Looking Away and Rubbing his Arm Gently) So...I can be able look after my mother and sisters when necessary.....

Wilow: (Let's Out a Soft Gasps as She Covers her Mouth in Genuine Surprise) Whitley.....You went out of your way to do this for us?

Whitley: (Simply Nodded) Correct. You're all willing to look after me while putting up with my immature antics. The least I can do is to try and return the favor.....

Ruby: Awwww~

Weiss: That's very thoughtful of you, Whitley. Truly. But why haven't come to me o-or Winter to help you train?

Ruby: Or me and Oscar? (Arm Hugs her Boyfriend Close to Her) We could've helped train you to become a force to reckon with!

Whitley: (Turns to the Couple) You two train together?

Oscar: In the morning times. They're....a challenge to say the least.

Flashback/Training Montage

Ruby: (Running Around the Block Along with Oscar While Coaching Him and Panting at the Same Time) Come on, Oscar!.....Just....A few more laps before we back!

Oscar: (Running While Panting as Well) Okay.....But.....How many....Laps.....Do we have to do.....Again exactly?

Ruby: Well.......We're on our second lap.....So I think......Five more laps?

Oscar: (Eyes Begins to Widened) FIVE!?

Ruby: Yes, Oscar....... Five! I know it's a reach.....But if we want......To keep protecting our homes.....And the people we love.....We gotta keep pushing ourselves to the limit!.....FOR REMNANTTTTTTTTTT!~ (Holds Two Fists Up in the Air and Starts Running Faster)

Oscar's groans tiredly before catching himself up to his relentless girlfriend.

.............................................................................

Oscar and Ruby then spar against one another in a hand-in-hand combat. The girl in red encourages her boyfriend to keep going as she watches him dodge and parries every blows she delivers to him as she does the same to his attacks.

As they step back a few inches, the couple proceeds to rush over and deliver their respective punches towards one another.....only for their fists to land directly towards their respective faces.

Ruby: (Winces in Pain by the Punch) Your punches....has gotten stronger, honey......

Oscar: (Winces in Pain as Well) Thanks.......Yours too......

The couple let their respective groans as they slowly slide down to the ground at the same time.

..........................................................................

Ruby: Ten.....Eleven.......Twelve......Thirteen......Come on, Oscar. Don't stop now, you can do this!

Oscar: Ruby.....I know.....you said......not to.....Question.....Our Workout Routine, but......(Gruntingly Does his Pushes Ups....With Ruby Laying on his Back) Is laying on my back while I do push ups....REALLY necessary!?

Ruby: Of course! It helps build up more of the backbone muscles' strength and resilience. (Hugs Oscar's Back) Plus, it's just a comfy as your hugs~

Oscar: (Rolls his Eyes) Of course it is.......

'Door Opens'

Yang: (Walks Outside of the House) Hey, Lovebirds~ Still doing your morning training?

Ruby: (Happily Nods to Yang) Yep!~ Helping Oscar do push ups with some extra weight on his back.(Sots Herself Up and Gently Pats on the Extra Spot of Oscar's Back) Wanna join in?

Yang: (Grins Happily) Sure! I'm game. Here I come, lil' bro!~

Oscar: (Eyes Widened in Fear as He Sees Yang Joining in on the Back Sitting Attack) Wait, nonononono YANG-!

End of Flashback/Training Montage

Oscar: ('Sigh') I was this close into making it to twenty that day......

Ruby: (Rest her Head onto Oscar's Shoulder) You did the best you, honey, and we couldn't be anymore proud~ (Kiss Oscar's Cheek)

Whitley: (Scoffs While Rolling his Eyes) Please. I'd rather fight a robot again than to be seen working out with you two inseparable dolts.

Oscar: Hey!

Ruby: Rude!

Whitley: (Turns to Weiss) And to answer your question, sister: The reason I haven't come to you nor Winter about this is simply because of how busy you two have gotten as of late. With you rebuilding the Schnee Dust Company from the ground up and Winter traveling and making sure our word doesn't fall apart for the second time. (Turns Away Once More) Plus, I figured you have other better things to do.than to waste your time me 24/7........

Weiss: (Frowns Sadly While Letting Out a Sigh) It's true that our schedule has gotten more busier and hectic nowadays. And I know that we don't always have the relationship as siblings......(Gently Holds Whitley's Hand) But even with that in mind, it won't EVER stop me from spending time with you or helping you from any problems have problems with. I love you, Whitley......I love you so much and I wanna do whatever to do better by you, as your big sister.

Wilow: (Hugs Whitley Softly) I want to do for you the same welll.

Whitley: Mother?

Wilow: I love you and sisters with all my heart and the last thing I ever want to right now is stand here and let either of you suffer in silence. So please, don't ever be afraid to come to either of us for anything. Cause we'll always be there for you.

Whitley: (Heart Begins to Melt by Every Word Said from his Sister and Mother's Mouths) Right. I.....appericate that.....very much.

Oscar: (Notices Something) Whitley, are you crying right now?

Wilow: (Eyes Widened in Worry) Oh no! Honey, is that true?

Whitley: (Starts Realizing the Few Tears Falling Down From his Eyes Before Quickly Wiping Them Away) N-No! Of course I'm not crying. Only had something on my eye is all....

Ruby: You sure? Cause it looks like your eyes were watering there a second ago.

Whitley: (Glares at Ruby) It's nothing! Those dumb silver eyes of your are clearly seeing things.

Ruby: (Glares Back at Whitley) Excuse you!? My eyes are way more clever than you think, thank you very much! (Blows a Raspberry)

Whitley: ('Sigh') Whatever. (Ignores Ruby and Turns Back to Weiss) So.....does this mean you'll train me from here on out?

Weiss: (Smiles Softly at her Brother Before Giving him a Simple Nod) Yes. I will. (Crosses her Arms Together) But do not expect to go easy on you just because you're my baby snowflake of a brother.

Whitley: (Glares at his Sister) Weiss!

Weiss: What? It's your nickname isn't it? And you are the baby of this family.

Wilow: (Smiles Softly as She Slowly Rock Herself and Whitley From Side to Side) Whom we love ever so~

Ruby: (Snickers Once More With Oscar) Baby Snowflake~

Oscar: The Prince of all Snowflakes~

Whitley: ('Groans') Enough with the nickname already! I've already grown past that sage in my life!

Weiss: Really. (Smirks Playfully) Hard to tell woth that scow wrotten l on your adorable face~

Whitley: I regret coming to you for guidance.

Weiss: (Smiles Brightly) Well, too bad. As of today, you're stuck with me whether you like it or not., little brother.

Whitley: Joy.

@albion-93

@keyenuta

@maripr

@ma-lemons

@bestpony666

#rwby #whitley schnee #weiss schnee #willow schnee #oscar pine #ruby rose #yang xiao long #robot training gone wrong #humor #sweet family moment #hurt/comfort #weiss is best big sis #willow is best mom #rosegarden

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jendoe · 2 years ago

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Claire and Alex? 🥺

omg... thank u... another excuse to talk about my favs

Name: Noah Conrad Weiss (middle name chosen to honor Roth even though he's totally Fine in this verse)

Gender: Male

General Appearance: Blond curls, blue eyes, and lots of freckles. Claire's mini-me... or well, not so mini considering he ends up surpassing even Alex in height. He is a BIG boy, about 6'4 when he stops growing.

Personality: Soft spoken and introverted. Definitely prefers to keep to himself, so not very talkative unless you get him going on a topic he's enthusiastic about because he enjoys sharing knowledge with others. Science-oriented like Claire is, though his interests lie more in paleontology and herpetology than marine sciences. Gentle natured in general, but does have a bit of a temper and can be quite stubborn at times.

Special Talents: Can info dump about dinosaur and reptile facts at the speed of light.

Who they like better: Another momma's boy, so his attention is split between Claire and Lara. As a small child, he was definitely clingiest with Claire, but also spent a lot of one on one time with Lara since he had a habit of waking up early.

Who they take after more: Again, he is Claire's mini-me. They could bounce off each other for hours.

Personal Head canon: He will handle any reptile with excited glee, but if you try to show him a bug... well, let's just say El has freaked him out with her bug collection on more than one occasion. Big sister behavior.

#x: sugar pie honey bunch #also putting it in #x: late shift at the nine bells #bc obvi i cant bring up their kids without bringing up their other mommy <3 #insp: noah #thank you again!!!#he is so baby boy #also no fc bc like... idk #i mean technically he HAS one but i am Unsure

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artrite-porque · 4 months ago

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TOTK envelhecendo igual asfalto

Não mudou nada, mas eu só comecei a prestar atenção agora.

De vez em quando eu tenho os delírios de tentar imaginar como seria a adaptação de certos jogos pro cinema, e viajando em um mundo que eu poderia fazer isso da maneira mais adequada possível.

BOTW? Uma oportunidade do c*. A maioria das pessoas não presta muita atenção nisso, mas a parte que você joga em um jogo raramente se traduz em bom cinema. Breath of the Wild se presta muito a um filme (série?) por dois motivos.

O boy-cueca acorda sem memória, em um vasto mundo (aberto) de fantasia etc etc aquela coisa. Esse é o sonho molhado de qualquer roteirista, poder apresentar o contexto aos poucos, visto que o protagonista vai ser o orelha da história (ao invés de invetar um personagem imbecil pra cumprir esse papel). Além disso, quem não curte passar meia hora vendo um bói amnésico de cueca box (medieval) passeando por um plateau que é o mini-mundo de Hyrule, pra fazer as vontade de um rei safado que podia ter ajudado mais do que atrapALHADO ESSE CAR--

Uma das coisas mais maneiras de Senhor do Anéis é que metade dos livros vai aparecer na tela do cinema sem a gente perceber, visto que o véio gostava pra um caraio de descrever o mundo que ele criou. BOTW tem muito, muito cenário pra ser explorado, e muitos deles contam histórias em si (em TOTK descobrimos que rolou alguma coisa pra rachar uma certa montanha ao meio... história, história).

Um filme (série? na real, material tem) não é feito só disso, mas são dois grandes benefícios que ajudam na escrita, que parece ser a parte mais difícil de se adaptar jogo. Todo mundo amando Sonic, mas esquecem que aquilo é praticamente o filme da Barbie, guardadas as devidas palhetas de cor, pois foi só pegar a IP da marca e tacar em qualquer história male ou mene. Jesus, até Mario entregou mais fanservice, e ainda é bem... flexível com a maneira de narrar, só o básico do básico mesmo.

Agora... TOTK? (eu fico errando a sigla, tenho que repetir em voz alta o nome todo pra acertar, meio ridíc--)

Vou fazer o papel que procuro cumprir nas lives, aqui também: mediação.

TOTK nasceu como DLC, alguém lá dentro se empolgou com os Nuts and Bolts da parada, e resolveram fazer a produção girar em torno dessa mecânica ao invés de, oh não sei, contar um caraio de história.

(Zelda nunca foi muito bom de história mesmo, salvo pouquíssimas exceções, mas o crime é maior quando o potencial é grande. É biblico isso, se liga)

TOTK teve a oportunidade de quebrar o fluxo da história tradicional, fazendo Ganon retornar muito antes do esperado, além de contar uma viagem no tempo que poderia ser legitimamente interessante e dramática.

Reciclar os sages, por uns moleque que ninguém liga (fora o Cidão, Cidão é gente boa rapaiz olha)? Nem desculpa pros templos genéricos deram mais, a narrativa em torno da fake Zelda, tudo torta, sem sentido, e dependendo da forma com você avança, fica até sem sentido algumas cutscenes.

Eu tô ligado que é f* fazer uns leves retcons pra encaixar o que você quer - no caso, eles não quiseram desenhar algo novo com a história, só queria fazer o pseudo-DLC funcionar, então a história foi sendo amassada e dobrada pra entrar nesse papo doido de Fuse, Ultrahand e pans e tans. Eu admiro muito quem pega uma franquia (filme, livro, jogo) e consegue criar sequência em algo que, muitas vezes, nem teve um fim que preste no original.

Nos últimos dois, três anos tivemos umas levas boas de jogos que seguraram bem as pontas do ecossistema da Nintendo, a desculpa de que Zeldinha tinha que sair naquela hora era besteira. Só o que me faltava agora, Nintendo dando uma de Benioff-Weiss e tocando fogo em GoT porque tavam de saco cheio.

(será que isso aqui tá com tamanho de Medium?)

Estou escrevendo mais algumas coisas em paralelo, pra ficar mais claro vou postar sobre isso em outro momento. Sério, eu torrei muito sobre o que a história de TOTK poderia ter sido, e me dói que em vários momentos eles passaram muito, MUITO perto de fazer algo incrível. Mas quem sou eu, uma das empresas com o maior valor de mercado no planeta?

#zelda #zeldinha #totk #escrita #gaming #nintendo #história #botw #game of thrones #maior prova do sono foi a dificuldade em escrever game of thrones

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falllpoutboy · 2 years ago

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day 3 of JB week 2022: wednesday, oct 05 - metal - Share your favorite quotes by or about JB! 🎙

just gonna made a long compilation of my favorites because there was a lot said about them by the actors and crew over the years :))

“She has a growing relationship with this man and she might not know what it is or exactly what form it takes but she knows she wants to save his life. She knows she doesn’t want him to die and she knows that she wants him to be with her. As she walks out, she can just bring her self to look up to him to see him and then has to look down. It’s too much for her”- Gwendoline Christie, Game Revealed, Season 8 Episode 2, video, gifset

“Brienne’s a very naturally shy person shy and she stands in front of that room and she put herself on the line and it’s almost like a declaration of love”- GC, Game Revealed, Season 8 Episode 2, video, gifset

“It goes all the way back to the beginning of the relationship when he kind of jumped in the line of fire for her”- Nikolaj Coster Waldau, Game Revealed, Season 8 Episode 2

“He goes ‘Well hang on a second I can do this. There are no rules against it, it’s just weird tradition.’ I think it’s an act of huge appreciation and I think it’s an act of love”- NCW, The Last Night, Seasons 8 Episode 2, video, gifset

"When Brienne and Jaime are together, something incredibly magnetic seems to occur. Last season, there was that scene where she tries to persuade him to allow her to speak to the Blackfish, and she’s able to communicate and negotiate with him, and be heard by him in a way that doesn’t really exist between many of the other male and female characters. In a way that’s not about manipulation, but is positive. So I’m endlessly fascinated by their dynamic. I really am."- GC, The New York Times article

“There’s a nonverbal four or five second thing between Cersei, Jaime and Brienne. That’s not even a line of dialogue it’s just a mini scene of built out of looks.” “It’s sort of like one of the worst things that happened to you in school. I think it’s Brienne’s idea of absolute abject hell. Fighting the Hound was an abject hell but a moment of having to deal with Jaime and Cersei is the most excruciating thing that could possibly happen to Brienne.”- D.B Weiss and GC, Season 7 Episode 7: Inside the Episode, video

"And then of course, through that journey, they realize they're so much more alike than they could imagine. They, in many ways I think, share fundamental beliefs, and are both very honorable and alike in the way that they are loyal to the people they love and they will do anything to help and protect the people they love. Then it turns out, of course, you find out that actions speak louder than words. They both help each other tremendously. He helps save her from rape and the whole bear attack, and she helps him open up about what's the most traumatic event in his life, the killing of the Mad King -- finally being able to tell someone the truth.... Absolutely. That was an act of love, I think, and it is an act of love when you open up to someone and for the other one to then literally embrace you is beautiful."- NCW, article

@braime-won

#jaime x brienne #jb week 2022 #braime #i could’ve added a lot more but like this post would’ve been really long #so these are just my faves #yes i still love a knight of the seven kingdoms fcking sue me #back when nikolaj was coherent and didnt pander to twincest 🫡

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cantuscorvi · 2 years ago

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And I also wish to discover what Raum and Mads will offer to this world, they deserve to bring the double menace around

send me a pair and I’ll tell you what I think it would be like if they had a child. @distopea

Name: Roxanne Weiss Campbell Gender: Feminine (she/her)

General Appearance:

With charcoal coloured hair and grey-blue eyes, at a glance Roxanne falls more obviously on the side of Mads. Her skin tone is sampled directly from Raum though, an ivory hue that tends to suffer badly under the sun. Her face is more sharp and angular than soft, and the contrasting prominence of all her features gives her a striking and mysterious look. In dress, she’s on the simpler side, certainly not as feminine as expected for a girl of the period, but on the list of things she cares about, appearance is quite low.

Personality:

Sharp as a tack and serious to a fault, she inherited the strong sense of duty and rationale from both parents – despite their wishes for her to lead an easier life than theirs. Roxanne has a calm, self-assured nature that many people in their world would find off-putting for a woman to have. She figured out at a young age the expectation of society and therefore, it’s a large part of her personality that she hides under a veil of simple curiosity and innocence. She is quite good at putting on a performance and manipulating the truth. All those questions she’s asking? Oh, it’s nothing special. She’s just interested in the way you tell the story… Can you tell it again? There’s a bit of a temper under that mask of hers though. A streak of rebellion. She’s quite sick of constantly playing the good girl in order not to offend anyone, and if you piss her off, that built up frustration can come exploding out.

Special Talents:

Analytical. A master of reading between the lines – she can play the social game with ease and is good at figuring out what you’re really trying to say. Even sometimes the things you don’t want others to know. Deceptive. A result of masking her personality to better fit in society, Roxanne is adept at blending into a crowd, making up stories, spinning lies and half truths, and essentially, playing into whatever thoughts you already have about her. Fighter. Growing up from military parents meant they both made sure she knew how to defend and take care of herself in a dangerous situation. She knows how to drive, how to shoot a gun, and if you get on her bad side, she has a nasty right hook too.

Who they like better:

It’s a struggle to choose. She feels grateful to have grown up with parents who aren’t “normal”, despite the hardship it has afforded them, because she also struggles with feeling like she doesn’t fit in. There’s a sense of solidarity between them that has only gotten stronger the older she became. On the other hand, she often feels stifled by both of them. Despite their attempts, Raum & Mads both still treat her like a young girl, or a child that they need to (over)protect. It grates on her nerves to not be taken seriously.

Who they take after more:

In her serious demeanour, it has to be Mads. She’s often walking around with that determined expression on her face like she’s his mini-me. However, her more outspoken and performative side comes from Raum.

Personal Headcanon:

Roxanne is working as a journalist – something that she takes pride in. Although initially hired as typist, then relegated to the women’s page or lifestyle column, she started writing different articles under the name of a male colleague who was rather incompetent and had desperately asked for her help to meet a deadline. When the truth finally came to light, they had to accept that she had been writing his articles for months and give her the position – although she remains writing under his name instead of her own. She has a bit of Mads’ Scottish twang in her accent which often catches people off-guard. That, plus her appearance, often has people asking if she’s foreign or suspecting she might be some kind of European tourist. Since she knows multiple languages, she can play this off quite well to get information. She is quite obsessed with movies and musicals, and really wanted to be an actress at a young age. Although, after a while she gave up the dream after realising how strict the contracts were and how tightly the lives of the stars were controlled. Instead, in her spare time she is concocting a screenplay that she hopes will become a reality someday.

#distopea #ask #( meme ; response )#( ardor armis. ardor amatori ; raum & mads )#v: the red devil #A DETERMINED BABY #so much courage from her parents #she is so strong and she makes me proud she needs a hug ;w;#anyway i hope you enjoy

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whitleyschn33 · 4 years ago

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One headcanon that bugs me is the headcanon that the Glyphs are only inherited by Schnee women. The biggest reason it bothers me cause then if we go back to that scene in V4 where Weiss was asking if Whitley was only salty about the sisters' abilities, it just seems unfair to go there because Whitley being a boy makes it completely out of his control.

Oh, yeah this headcanon bugs me a lot, but not quite for that reason; now that you bring it up, though, I can add that to the pile. How absolutely awful would it be for Weiss to ask if the reason he dislikes her is because he’s jealous of abilities that he physically can not have and therefore physically can’t escape Jacques the way she and Winter did? There’s being insensitive, and then there’s just flat out being a bitch, and that would firmly fall into the latter category.

The main reason I dislike it though is it’s not a headcanon, it’s an AU. Headcanons are ideas that while they don’t have much or any evidence for being true in canon, canon does nothing to contradict it either. The idea that only women can inherit the Schnee semblance contradicts canon completely, though, so it’s an AU.

One, Nicolas Schnee most likely had the Schnee semblance. If he didn’t, it seems unlikely he would use the snowflake as the symbol for himself and his company.

Two - Winter just says point blank “Every Schnee has the ability to summon; we have for generations.” Not “Every Schnee woman”, “every Schnee”. Why would she say that if she didn’t mean it?

This theory just also feels... really spiteful. Like a way to cut Whitley out of the Schnee family and just keep it the female members - Willow, Winter, and Weiss. The FNDM doesn’t like Whitley (or hasn’t shown many signs of it until he started doing things Weiss liked), so they try to boot him out. Deny he’s an abuse victim just like Weiss and Winter, try to argue that he’s a mini-Jacques, make up this theory that cuts him out of the Schnee inheritance based on his gender - like only the female Schnees are real Schnees, and male members like Whitley aren’t, and is a poser that needs to be thrown out with Jacques.

I just hate this idea, on every level. It’s spiteful, it makes Weiss’s lines to him pretty bitchy, and it’s just completely contradicted by canon.

#whitley schnee #rwby #rwby8 #weiss schnee #ask reply

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main-routine · 4 years ago

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WITH THE TAIL BETWEEN HER LEGS ep. 1-2: Ladybug

(A RWBY fanfic for big league perverts)

(AND FUTANARI FETISHISTS)

Blake Belladona was rushing in her motorcycle down the street, her punctuality was an important deal to her, and she was not gonna risk it because her boss is a bitch. Her old friends from Beacon were gathering for Yang's B-day in her favorite bar, and she had to be there for her partner's party. The black cat crossed the streets as if they were her own, ignoring the cars in her sides and dodging any traffic lights and officer she could, trying to waste the less time she could to get to the place of the party, and after 20 minutes of races, she stopped at the parking lot of a western themed place.

As she turned off the black sport bike, she got off her famous ass, and walked to the gatekeeper, pulling a yellow card with a flaming heart as it's logo from a little white purse. "Xiao Long invited me" said Blake at the same time she showed the card to the 6'11" monster blocking the access. "Huh?, Oh so you are the one who was missing, kitty?" answered the man after opening the door and crossing her name from that night's guest list. "Thanks Bruno, I'll bring you some cake later" replied the Belladona, as she passed the door and squeezed in the crowd. The cat eared lady was waved from a private table in the second floor, almost isolated from the noise of the dance floor and the counter. Jaune opened the chain to the stairway and thanked Blake for coming: "Thanks Monty you're here! Yang and Nora has been making me drink all this time, and I don't think I could have any more whisky without vomiting" said the blondie at the same time he went up to the stairs.

"Kitty cat!" Yelled Yang, as she hugged both of her friends, "You and I need to empty another bottle of scotch, Arc… And you Bellabooty: You are gonna show me how good you look on the dance floor or I'm gonna get mad for coming late" claimed Yang as she pulled them towards the private lounge tugging from their coats. As the bottles ran empty and the hours passed the group of eight reduced at each of them went drunk or home. First Jaune and Pyrrha, later Weiss, and lastly Ren carrying a heavily drunk Nora. When the clock reached the 2AM. Blake called a Taxi for Yang and Ruby who were almost too drunk to protest against the measure.

As she helped the staff clean the mess of 5 hours of Nora and Yang she passed to the couch were a drunk Ruby was cuddling.

[Turning_Point]

For the cat, The silver eyed girl was a perfect prey: her mini skirt, loosened because the hours of dancing revealed a tight red thong with black details. Her feet, usually covered by stockings and boots were naked now, trying to rest from the painful heels which the redhead never used. Her gentle chest, even if never as big as her sister's was tightly wrapped in a white corset, pushing her breasts up, and making them look seductive for the black cat. Blake unable to restrain herself, kissed the cheek of Ruby, making the drunk but sleep redhead wake up and hug Blake "Blake? Give me a kiss, please?" Asked the naive Ruby tugging from the coat's flaps the black haired woman and making her fall over her. "Jeez, Ruby, you look insatiable" said Blake before coiling her tongue with Ruby's in the bold style of the Belladona: bravely, passionately, and with a string joining the pair's mouths after they finished. Doing so, revealed a tightness inside Blake's shorts, a tightness never supposed to rise with a friend she never thought she would lay her hands off.

Regretting what she did, Blake ran to the bathrooms and shutted herself inside the toilets.

Blake ripped off her bursting white shorts and threw them in the floor, showing a throbbing dick who was demanding for attention. Attention only Blake could give with her right hand while thinking of the pink lips of the redhead: first spitting on the head of his cock, following by gentle strokes with her hand, distributing the spit of hers and Ruby around all the length of the shaft. The head, feeling the movements of her hand, answered the letting with shivers of pleasure in her hips, and releasing also wet fluids from her pussy dripping in her thighs. With every stroke, the girl pant and shivered, slowly raising the speed until she wanked her meat with mad speed, as she edged in the verge of climax, she heard a worrying call from outside her door: *Knock**Knock**Knock* "Blake? Are you ok?" asked Ruby, making the Cat Futanari drip a drop of her white cream over the sink. Without a warning, the redhead, entered the bathroom with fizzing eyes and barefooted, only to watch the throbbing dick of what she thought was her old classmate...

[End of chapter 1]

Before the surprised girl, could scream in fear, Blake kissed her again, with more time, with less love,but for time and technique enough to compensate for the rude act. "It is not what you think Ruby, I was… always like this, it's just that I forgot to behave myself, and your lips were just too much for me to handle and…" tried to apologize the cat eared futa, only to make Ruby interrupt her with another kiss and a gentle stroke around her breasts: "I'm not scared of you, I was only surprised of your… 'size' " said the redhead as she changed her hands from the cat's breasts to her throbbing rod. "I caused this to you?" asked the naive girl towards Blake as she held with both hands the still boiling meat of her. Blake nodded at the same time she bit her fingers, trying to hold her load time enough to either die of embarrassment or calm her male instincts.

"Then, I should take responsibility for my own mess" replied Ruby as she got on her knees, kissed the crown of Blake's dick and started licking the head of it, making circles around the glans as she looked straight to the eyes of her partner's pain filled face. Then she opened her hot mouth and shoved the dick in front of her to the back of her throat, making the knees of the Cat weak, and getting the cock even deeper inside the redhead's mouth.

"Don't worry *hic* Blakey! I will relieve you of this in ten moves or less!" condemned Ruby to Blake as she pulled out her head and slapped her meat in her blushed cheek:

She ran her tongue from the top of Blake's pussy lips to the back of her cock's head.

"Ruby!..

She licked the neglected dick cheese, running the same tongue that tasted her pussy juice inside the corners of her glans and urethra.

...please...

As she returned the scout to her mouth she gently kiss the urethra of the Futanari.

...this is no good...

Opening slowly, she gave the catgirl's dick a small taste, slurping the head of her 8 inches long cock. Ruining the redhead's pink gloss lipstick and smearing it over her shaft as she closed again.

...Oh Gods!...

Repeating the motion, Ruby shoved again the giant thing inside her cheeks, trying to suppress any instincts that said her to bite it, making it go half the way inside until the petite girl gagged the meat rod once more.

...I...hate...yo…

Blake answered the harassment, grabbing the head of her former captain and sticking her boiling meat again against the will of the redhead, smearing the thing inside the mouth as the girl dripped spit and precum from her lips to her chest

...C-cu-Cumming!"

Blake's cock hardened itself inside the mouth of Ruby, opening the flow of hard boiling white fluid inside the throat of the girl, stiffening her legs as Ruby grabbed the Belladona's ass and pulled it towards her face; preventing the retreat of her coward friend as she swallowed anything the cat spitted at her. As the climaxed cat panted in pleasure, Ruby stood up and walked with an arrogant smirk towards the toilet stall. The redhead entered and started stripping her lower half, showing her fit rear as she put her hands in the top of the toilet and opened her legs."Nine moves Blake, you need to make the 10th" challenged Ruby.

Blake loosened up her legs, recovering from the climax she just released, falling to her knees, and drooling on the floor. Her chest beat at 100 MPH, her lust was winning over her common sense, her dick over brain, and of course her own body heat over the clothes. She took off her white coat, pulled her violet scarf and tore her black blouse, leaving only the black torn stockings she had under the white shorts. Only after that, she stood up again and ran towards the horny redhead.

Belladona stood over Rose, kissing her at the same time she untied her white corset, her new erection throbbed against the inner lips of her leader, trying to enter as it pushed forward without any success. Ruby, without breaking her standing doggy style pose, answered Blake's kiss, coiling her tongue with hers and pushing her hips with her own and making her rod slip down instead of sliding inside. When Blake finally took the white thing out of Ruby, she pinched the redhead's nipples, "Brats like you deserve punishment, Ruby" said the catgirl answering the girl's challenge as she broke the kiss, and locked her arms behind her back.

Ruby, without notice felt her little pussy being forced open by the head of the Belladona's cock, swallowing in intoxicating pleasure every inch of the shaft and releasing love juice in gratefulness, as the cat pulled back her cock, charging another ram at the back of her redhead partner's cervix, and slamming her meat against it. For over 15 minutes, Blake repeated the motion until a yellowish liquid started dripping from Ruby's thigh, exposing the pleasured status of her former leader, making her smirk and replying "thank the gods we were here in the bathrooms instead of my bed, I would have spanked your cheeky ass red as your cape, if you had soiled them" taunted the Bellabooty as she stroked the redhead's clit with one hand and carressed her throat with the other.

"That doesn't need to stop you" replied Ruby, at the same time she slammed her butt with Blake's hips, accelerating the rhythm to the pace of each slap, and as promised by the Belladona It wasn't until her ass was red as roses and the pace was enough for the two of them, that the Belladona stopped, hugging the redhead's waist as she poured her cream in the deepest of Ruby's womb. Ruby's legs trembled in extasis, as the white fluid invaded her deepest corners, and fell apart when the meat rod left her hot vagina, making the excess fluid drip into the bathrooms' floor.

Blake left the petite girl panting, almost knocked out by the orgasm, whispering in her ear "I'll go out and get your sister a taxi, wait here and we will continue this at my place, ok?"

#rwby #rwby smut #ladybug rwby #ruby rose #blake bellodona

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ask-garnet-n-ruby · 5 years ago

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Picture Prompt Commissions

So I’ve decided to try something a bit interesting in terms of writing. It’s something I’ve been doing for a while now for fun but decided to do it on a more serious level. Essentially what I’m going to be doing, is picture prompt commissions.

What I would be doing is basically, I would write a mini-story revolving around a picture of your choice. It can be SFW, Ecchi, or NSFW; a personal RWBY pic you commissioned. Or just a pic that you really like, and would like to have a story written behind it. Feel free to choose whatever you’d like.

Pricing:

3 cents per word with a 1000 word limit. Though this is likely to change if I get more comfortable with it.

So, for example, a full 1000 words would come up to about $30

I accept payment through PayPal USD ONLY

But if I Pic Request revolving around a favorite pairing or whatnot. Then I’ll bump it down to 2 cents per word.

To prevent people from going overboard. Each commissioner will be allowed up to 2 MAYBE (And I stressed “Maybe”) 3 pictures for me to write a story. However, each additional pic will be an extra $2 to pay.

So say, you want a second pic; that’s 2 extra dollars on top of what you’re going to be paying for the second story.

Rules:

-I’m rather laid back, I’ll accept relatively any and all forms of pics. However, I WILL NOT accept any Guro, Snuff, Toilet kinks or whatever.

-I’ll be working on other things well, so bear with me if I’m a little slow. But I will take priority over them.

-You can chat with me in DMs for the details. Or, if you have discord, message me there. I’ll give you my ID in private.

-In terms of payments, I will accept them after I’ve completed the prompt. HOWEVER, until I receive the money, I will hold on to your commission.

-Genderbents are allowed both Male to Female, and Female to Male.

-I DO reserve the right to reject a pic if I feel put off by it. But chances are, that won’t happen. But I feel obligated to tell you this beforehand, should a rare event occur.

-Now in terms of Picture Prompts itself. You either have the choice of asking for a certain scenario behind the pic. Or, you can merely give me free rein over the story and I’ll write it however I see fit. The choice is entirely yours.

Faves:

-Enabler

-Dom/Futa!Ruby

-Sub/Bottom Weiss, Winter, Whitley.

-Ruby/Harem

I WILL NOT do/Accept Pics for the Following Characters:

-Cardin or Team CRDL

-Neptune

-Whitley

-Jaune

-Adam

I WILL, however, accept Genderbent version, such as: Eve Taurus, Joanne Arc, and Whitney Schnee

Commission Slots (3 Available):

#Mun Talks #RWBY #Commission

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mystech-master · 2 years ago

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I had no idea how to choose which does. Do I cross out the takes I agree with or the ones that I thought with my own thoughts when I watched the show?

I like watching/reading reviews from people because I want to learn how to have a more professional opinion on things.

I'll try to explain some things but I will group a lot together because they are connected in some way

Blake's Slap Was Abusive: I saw that as just more comedy and her being mad at Sun for following her when she wanted to be all loner-like.

Taiyang's Arm Joke: I get the shock value, but yeah, everyone was up in arms about this but I never felt off about it. I get it, but I never thought that way

Adam's change in characterization and Racism Subplot is poorly handled: First, let's be clear about Adam. We got 3 scenes of the guy before his "change": the Black Trailer, Blake talking about him in Vol 2, and the flashback with Cinder. The Vol 3 flashback is what made people think he went nuts. As for the Racism subplot as a whole, I always feel like I am the LEAST bit qualified to talk about it as I am a white male who has never seen hardcore racism personally in real life and any thoughts on RWBY's racism would just be me parroting stuff that I agree with. Personally, I think that they kind of dumb it down to "good minorities and bad minorities" when I would've been okay with a more moral grey story for cool think pieces. Instead, to me, it feels like instead of fixing the racism plot by trying to work it out more thy just took the scraps and made it into fuel for Bumblebee. Adam becomes the abusive Ex-boyfriend who is killed with the Power of Lesbians and it is totally cool. Now with the White Fang plot in the background with Sienna and Adam dead, it feels like Blake has no real purpose outside of being lesbians with Yang

Jaune's transphobic dress and Ren was aro/ace: I have never heard these takes before now and if I did it was YEARS ago.

Qrow's innkeeper story: Qrow is a rugged flirt, and probably messing with his young nieces. It is not that bad.

Fair Game Queerbaiting: True from what I heard the animators did kind of go on their own to make them look more flirty but that could be wrong and I don't follow the CRWBY's Twitter pages or whatever but yeah a lot of people wanted Qrow to be gay or bi but this is another case of "do I check this b/c I agree with the take or because I had this thought myself as I watched the show"

Jaune harassing Weiss: Yeah that is a bit of a no-no. I paid no mind to it back then but then Jaune kind of got iffy in the fandom and a lot of stuff looked worse in retrospect.

Snowbird is bad because Qrow is old. When it first came out and I thought Winter was like a decade older than Weiss I was cool with it, but then I learned she was more early-mid 20s and came off of it. It isn't about power dynamics it is more because an old man (I know 40 isn't THAT old but in terms of this) with a young woman is a bit iffy to me. Yeah, age gaps mean less when both are consenting adults but still, I prefer characters stick in their age ranges.

Jaune's screentime: They really tried to do the self-insert protag with him, especially with that mini-arc in VOl 1. The early VOlumes had short episodes and not a lot of time. I was cool with it because shows usually have episodes/arcs focusing on other characters. But with the limited time they had, they couldn't waste it.

Amber's Death was Jaune's fault: He turned because he was concerned for his friend and he wasn't given the full context to the stakes. He gets a pass on that one for me.

Rosegarden is bad because of Ozpin: Having a third wheel in someone's head makes a lot of ships weird for me. Imagine your principal telepathically linking with you when you're sleeping with your girlfriend. It is super awkward to imagine.

Eddy's Freezerburn tweet: Never heard of it before now and don't care.

Ironwood characterization was poorly handled: I will admit I did see seeds for an Atlas antagonist beforehand. His control over Penny as well as Atlas' monochrome palate compared to the rest of Remnant with the whole "Unity through Diversity" via color thing. But in terms of Vol 7, he had some good points based on the limited knowledge he had. Increased security was due to Cinder and co sneaking in before. Saving the world matters more than one city, the needs of the many and all that. Keeping a secret because people could be a rat or more people could be interrogated or tortured. There is way more that I am not mentioning but I don't want to make this section go on too long.

RWBY and JNPR's stubbornness destroyed Atlas: Again I can understand Irtonwood's "needs of the many" ideology. But Ruby and co were just saying "No either we all get saved or we all die together" and "If we stick together we can solve this" without giving any plan and knowing that Salem is immortal. That is just blind optimism. Ironwood's plan was to take who they can and get away from Salem instead of waiting for her to swoop in and take 2 Maidens and Relics. What was Ruby's plan? Not everyone has blind faith, some people want actual plans and solutions.

Weiss pointing Myrtenaster at Whitley: I saw this as "Whitely is a mini Jacques and deserves this" WE as the audience know he should be treated better because we can read context clues and can see little animation things. Weiss just sees the shit little brother. It is either "ha ha relatable Cain-energy siblings" or "He is poor baby/ an innocent civilian" for a lot of people. He is the shit little brother to apparently everyone's Best girl Weiss so when she points her sword at him it is for a good reason because it's Weiss. That is the logic I got from it.

Blake running away was cowardly: It was a bit naive, it wasn't like Adam couldn't have just found out where Yang lived while she was still in her PTSD funk, kidnapped her, and send a video to Blake to get her to come to him. In her logic, people were hurt because of her so she stays away to keep them safe. She doesn't WANT people to risk their lives for her.

Qrow is Ruby's father: I liked the theory, a bit upset it wasn't true, but it could still make for a fun AU.

Bumblebee is abusive: I do think that having a ship where the two characters are now basically stapled at the hip now when one of them has serious abandonment issues isn't healthy. It is a bit unhealthy IMO and as I said above it kind of feels like it was fed the scraps of the racism plot which was more interesting. There was some weirdness in Vol 6 with why Yang was upset iirc, something about how we thought she was upset because Blake abandoned her when really she was upset that she couldn't protect her or something IDK it's been years.

RWBY RWDE/Discourse Bingo

What's up, I know I've been basically dead for months besides RTX but I'm back to cause general chaos in the FNDM again. My first act? RWDE Bingo.

I had the idea for this last night after looking through Reddit (I know) and seeing that a lot of the FNDM still for some reason think that RWDE is a hivemind intelligence that all think the same exact things and agree with each other on everything. So I made this bingo board for everyone to have fun with! These are some of the RWDE topics and discourse I can remember from my long, long, tenure in the FNDM, and I have more, but this is round 1. If you think of any discourse or RWDE topics outside of this one, shoot me an ask or post it in the tags so I can do some more!

See which ones you agree with and talk about it if you want! Show your friends. Show your followers. Get out there and be the RWDEst bastards you can be! If- somehow- everyone in RWDE all pick the exact some discourse and don't pick the exact same ones, then I'll take back everything I ever said about RWDE not being a hivemind and give my capacity for free thinking up to the collective.

Gonna explain what each topic is under the read more considering a lot of these are old as dirt and some are a little confusing and probably could've been worded better had I not had limited space on the board. Some of them I don't agree with, but I'm still gonna do my best to explain them as unbiasedly as I can because I'm not a poopoo baby.

"Blake's slap was abusive." This one was about her slapping Sun during v4. People really didn't like that, especially considering that one of the scenes from the same episode was Jacques using physical violence against Weiss in an abusive manner. There are other conversation topics of Blake being abusive as well, but let's keep this one about the slap specifically, alright?

"Taiyang's arm joke." Remember that? Yeah a LOT of people thought Taiyang was horrible, no good, very bad father because he'd basically just made fun of Yang's brand new disability and trauma.

"Adam's change in characterization." Some people believe that Adam's characterization changed somewhere during season 3. That he went from being a ruthless freedom fighter to a genocidal maniac and jilted incel mad that his girlfriend left him.

"Qrow's Innkeeper story." People thought that story about the Innkeeper's skirt was super sexist and inappropriate for an uncle to tell his nieces.

"Jaune in a dress was a transphobic joke." This one's kinda self-explanatory. People thought that everyone laughing at Jaune wearing a dress was transphobic.

"Racism subplot is poorly handled." Again, kinda self-explanatory. Anything from Adam using his faction of TWF to join Cinder and Salem to Ghira being a bad leader to the story suddenly becoming about classism instead of racism to Robyn not being a fox Faunus, etc.

"Fair Game was queerbaiting/fridging gays." Some people thought Fair Game was the beginning of a budding romance and were sent back into The 100 CW hell when Clover got a sword through his torso.

"Snowbird is bad because Qrow is old." If you weren't around for season 3 you missed all the Snowbird shippers going feral about two attractive and of age characters finally sharing some screentime. You also missed some people being really weirded out by said Snowbird shippers because Qrow's in his mid to late 40's and Winter's in her late 20's.

"Jaune harassing Weiss s1&2." Did you think that Jaune flirting with Weiss back then was triggering? There was a ton of discourse about it and how Miles was basically using his character insert to harass one of the main characters and twist the framing of his harassment in a positive light.

"Sun is a stalker." Remember when Blake saw that robed dude following her and it was Sun? Who'd been following her for a few months? Yeah people were super squicked out about that and called him a stalker.

"Salem was right..." Basically the Gods were garbage entities anyway and deserved to get shit on. Salem was right to try, even if it got humanity 1.0 nuked.

"Rhodes deserved it." Y'all are probably like "who the hell is Rhodes?" That guy that trained Cinder! Yeah, remember that flashback scene? People think that Rhodes deserved to get skewered because he didn't actually do anything to try to save Cinder. He knew she was a slave working at the hotel and did nothing to save her and instead just told her to wait until she was 17 to join a Huntsman Academy.

"Jaune's screentime." Kinda self-explanatory. People thought Jaune took up too much screentime in the early volumes, to the point he rivaled most of team RWBY and had more lines than some of them combined. His plots also derailed the show because the bullying arc and the prom arc really had nothing to do with Salem or Ozpin or the relics or maidens, and that time could've been better spent doing more worldbuilding.

"Being forced to pick a side..." This one's almost entirely exclusive to the Tumblrsphere, but is this something you've felt pressured to do by any part of the FNDM? Have you been told you were biphobic for shipping Bumbleby/lesbophobic for shipping Black Sun? If not, count yourself lucky because you've avoided a LOT of bullshit.

"Waiting too long for LGBT rep." Do you feel that RT kept us waiting way too long for any meaningful representation? Especially considering what was promised to the FNDM early on in interviews with the CRWBY?

"Ren was an aroace bait&switch." People felt that Ren was aroace during the early volumes- especially after that "Please do nothing to the cook" apron scene- and were very frustrated when Ren did start showing romantic feelings for Nora.

"Amber's death was June's fault." Remember when Ozpin told Jaune to guard the door? And then he got distracted because his girlfriend got put in a box next to a comatose woman in another box? And then that comatose woman got an arrow through the chest because his back was turned? Do you think that was his fault?

"Rosegarden is bad because of Ozpin." Some people feel that Rosegarden is squicky because Ozpin's consciousness is in there and he's like seventy-million years old and Ruby's barely 17.

"Eddy's Freezerburn Tweet..." This one was over on Twitter. Eddy QRT'd a Tweet about "couples that would absolutely get a divorce" with "Freezerburn" and people were very angry about that and thought he was super unprofessional. Here's the link.

"Ironwood's s8 characterization..." Did you think that Ironwood's descent into a mustache twirling villain came out of nowhere? Did you think that it made no real sense to villainize Ironwood in the first place when Salem and Monstra and an army of Grimm were already outside Mantle and Cinder and her team were already inside Atlas? Did you think that that tidbit about his Semblance Mettle potentially clouding his judgement just to never be shown it was really badly handled? This one's kinda broad on purpose.

"RWBY/JNPR's stubbornness..." Some people think that Atlas being destroyed could've been prevented had our main characters just went along with Ironwood's plan.

"Weiss pointing Myrtenaster at Whitley." Did you think that Weiss doing that was totally out of line? That a soldier pointing a weapon at a civilian is totally unjustified? That siblings shouldn't ever threaten one another with violence at all?

"Blake running away was cowardly." Blake got a sword through her stomach, then was told by Adam that he'd destroy everything she ever loved. Then he dismembered Yang. Then, instead of even warning RW_Y about the threat, she just... left? Ran away? Even if you think her fear was justified, do you think it was cowardly to run without so much as a goodbye?

"Qrow is Ruby's father." Maybe you've seen this HC before, maybe you haven't. But people think that Qrow might be Ruby's real father. If you missed the discourse that his HC first brought about during v3 then I truly envy you, but if you remember the essay length dissertations people were writing about how mean and wrong and abusive that HC is, then suffer together with me.

"Bumbleby is abusive." You know all those weird parallels they keep emphasizing between Blake and Raven (how quick they are to abandon their friends, etc.), and Yang and Adam (how quick they are to lash out in anger, etc.)? You know how they're like, consistently highlighted in the show but not really addressed? But the ship is still portrayed as a positive one? Do you think Bumbleby's actually abusive?

#rwby #rwde #rwde bingo #bingo #I haven't thought about these things in years #so forgive me if my thoughts are a little rusty

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mikotyzini · 7 years ago

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Red Carpet Romance - Ch. 34

Here at last, the next chapter! And it's a long one (~10k)...

I actually set this up as a goal for my p/atreon page and they met it, so I finished this up as soon as possible! This story still holds a really special place in my heart, and I totally started working on the next chapters before getting caught up in Bumblebee and White Rose weeks (check those out soon! @bmblbweek and @white-rose-week).

I appreciate everyone's patience with this story, and I hope it continues to make you smile/laugh/get those nice, warm fuzzies. I know it still does that for me :)

Morning routines were easy to develop. Wake up, follow a second mini routine in the bathroom, pick out an outfit, and head out for whatever the day might bring. There might be several twists and turns along the way, but that morning routine almost always stayed the same.

Which was why waking up and knowing that the routine had already been thrown off course was discombobulating - and not in a pleasant way.

Normally the bed beside her was warm, but today it was as cold as if she’d spent the night alone. Blinking her eyes open, Blake confirmed that the bed was empty - the sheets throw aside when someone left them far too early. Stifling a yawn, she covered her mouth with one hand and sat up right as Yang walked out of the bathroom.

“God.” Stopping in her tracks, Yang playfully rubbed her eyes before shooting Blake a wide grin. “I should get up early every day if it means seeing the most beautiful girl in the world wake up. Like - wow. You’re a dream come true.”

Blake’s response to the exceptionally early compliment was a blush deepening on her cheeks - which only grew deeper when Yang walked over to the bed and kissed her good morning.

“How long have you been up?” Blake asked only after Yang’s lips left hers, leaving behind a warm, tingling sensation.

“Like half an hour. I wanted to get ready for breakfast!”

Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, Blake laughed.

“Don’t pancakes take about fifteen minutes to make?”

“Yeah, but I need to run to the store first. We don’t have everything.”

“Flour, eggs, milk, butter,” Blake said out loud while mentally confirming that those items were currently in their kitchen. “What else could you possibly need?”

“Clearly you’ve never seen Ruby eat pancakes,” Yang responded with a light laugh. “We need about a gazillion toppings. Plus, I wanna get a whole bunch of different juices that she can choose from! I don’t know which one’s her favorite right now - it switches every couple months or so.”

When Yang spoke about Ruby’s juice preferences, her expression filled with good cheer and an ever-present smile that was different from any Blake had seen before. This entire side of Yang was different from anything Blake had seen before - and she was greedy to learn more.

Watching Yang and Ruby interact was like watching two baby pandas roll around playing together - and Blake could probably never get tired of it….which was why she’d suggested that Ruby come over for breakfast. Little had she known that the invitation would mean that their regular routine would be completely broken and they’d be trekking out to the grocery store first thing in the morning.

“I’ll come with you?” Blake offered, swinging her legs out of bed and resting them on the soft carpet. Yawning again, she raised both arms above her head and stretched her back until feeling that slight tension that felt oh so good. Dropping her arms to her sides, she blushed when she caught the way Yang’s eyes were lingering on her stomach - where her shirt must have just ridden up.

Tugging at the bottom of her shirt, she stood and pressed a quick kiss to Yang’s cheek.

“You’ll wait for me, right?” she asked before heading to the bathroom, already knowing what the answer would be.

“Absolutely!” Following Blake to the bathroom, Yang leaned against the doorframe while watching her get ready for the day. “I mean, you know how long it takes me to get ready - but you get ready super fast! So I just figured, ya know, I’d get a head start on things so we can leave soon.”

Glancing at Yang in the mirror before closing her eyes to wash her face, Blake wasn’t convinced that Yang was being entirely honest. For one thing, the way she was shifting back and forth between her feet suggested that she was more impatient than she was currently letting on. But she must also realize that it was still several hours before Ruby would arrive, so there was no need to rush.

“Oh! I know what’ll help. I’ll go incognito.”

Curious, but mostly amused, Blake carried on with her routine while Yang disappeared from the doorway and rummaged around in the bedroom.

They tried to stick to a routine when at all possible, but - between both of their somewhat chaotic lives - the day was normally thrown into disarray at some point. Today, the unexpectedness had merely begun a little earlier than usual. By now, Blake had learned to adapt and be pleasantly surprised when the unexpected developments turned into a moment they never would’ve shared if not for the disruption.

“Ok, ok - how do I look?”

Putting her toothbrush back in the drawer and closing it, Blake grinned into the mirror and spun around to take a good look at Yang. Dressing ‘incognito’ apparently meant wearing a hat and pair of dark sunglasses.

“You look like Yang Xiao Long in sunglasses,” Blake answered with a laugh, reaching up to remove the sunglasses so she could see the lilac eyes she adored so much. “Honestly Yang, you’re way too beautiful to hide behind some glasses. You’ll need to wear a full Halloween costume or something.”

Yang’s only response to the comment was to give Blake that dopey smile that made her blush and turn away. Yang must be called beautiful a hundred times every day, but it was only when Blake said it that Yang smiled like that - and that smile always released a kaleidoscope of butterflies in Blake’s chest.

“If you’re worried about people recognizing you, how about I run out and pick up everything we need?” Blake offered, meeting Yang’s gaze once again.

“Are you kidding me??” Smile gone, Yang waved both hands in front of her while simultaneously shaking her head. “You’ll have all the boys swarming you in a heartbeat. I’m not letting you go out there without me being around to beat them back!”

Blake smiled while stepping past Yang to find an outfit to wear. Yang followed, of course - just like Blake wanted her to.

“You’re still upset about that boy from last night?” she asked, picking out a warm-purple, long-sleeved shirt and dark, dark pair of jeans that she knew Yang loved.

“Pfft…yeah right. What guy from last night? I don’t remember anyone other than you. And you were amazing, as usual. Oh, and there was this really annoying mosquito or something at one point, but I swatted him away and he didn’t come back.”

“You only remember me from last night?” Blake teased while quickly getting dressed - making sure to avoid Yang’s greedy eyes so they could sidestep any delays. “What about Weiss? It was her birthday. Or Pyrrha. Or, I don’t know, maybe your sister finally came back after being away for what sounds like was forever.”

“Okayyy so there were other people there, but definitely not any guys worth mentioning!”

“Admit it -” Blake finally said, turning around and giving Yang a small pout. “You were jealous.”

“I was so jealous, Blake,” Yang admitted with a far more serious expression than Blake had intended to illicit. “I don’t like the idea that anyone else could...could be with you - other than me.”

Touched by the honest sentiment, Blake stood on her tiptoes and kissed Yang on the lips.

“I don’t like that idea either,” Blake said, meeting Yang’s eyes and tucking several loose strands of blonde hair behind her ear. “So let’s not even think about it. Because it doesn’t matter who might be interested in me - I’m the one who gets to decide who I love. And I’ve already chosen you.”

Blake watched the smile grow - first in Yang’s eyes before landing on her lips - and smiled in return.

“Yeah?” Yang asked, sneaking her hands onto Blake’s hips and tugging them closer together. “So you don’t even care if it’s a bizarro male version of me?”

Laughing, Blake leaned into Yang’s embrace before playfully pulling away. “I thought there weren’t any boys at the party last night - especially not bizarro male versions of you.”

“Right. You’re right,” Yang replied with a pleased nod before swooping in and stealing another kiss. “But we should get going! Ruby’s gonna be here in like...three hours and we’re not ready!”

By now used to the rapid changes in subject, Blake accepted Yang’s hand and was pulled willingly out of their room and into the living room. While Yang hurriedly slipped on the first pair of shoes her hands fell upon, Blake decided to have a little fun of her own.

Yang was normally a pretty patient person. In fact, she was normally the one who was late or causing them to be late by dragging her feet. Now that the tables were turned, wasn’t it only fair that Blake take her own sweet time? There was no way of knowing whether or not a moment like this would ever present itself again, after all...

Walking over to the closet, Blake held the door with one hand and stared thoughtfully at the shoes paired up inside. Being that she had little interest in fashion, she already knew exactly which pair she was going to wear...but Yang didn’t know that.

“Hmm…” Blake breathed out while studying her options. Feeling Yang’s intent stare, she tried not to smile - that would only give away what she was doing.

Reaching into the closet, she picked up one pair and stood up...only to put them back and pick up another potential candidate. Yang shifted her feet, but managed to remain quiet. Impressive! Maybe she was even more patient than Blake was giving her credit for.

Putting the second pair back in place and retrieving the shoes she actually intended on wearing, Blake calmly sat down on the sofa and slowly slipped them on. All the while, Yang watched and fidgeted nearly nonstop. And, as soon as Blake stood up, she bolted for the front door.

“Ok, let’s go!” she said, practically out in the hall already.

“Oh, hold on!” Blake called out, turning around and walking towards the kitchen table. “I forgot my bag.”

“Blakeeee!” Yang finally whined, having reached her limit of patience. Blake couldn’t help laughing at the adorable sound while quickly grabbing her bag and meeting Yang by the door - with Yang slowly figuring out what was going on by the way Blake playfully shook her head.

“You’re just messing with me?” Yang asked, grinning when Blake nodded. “Well could you mess with me on the way to the store instead??”

“I suppose that'll do…” Blake joked, accepting Yang’s hand and heading towards the elevator that would take them down to the lobby. “Although it’ll be harder to do when you’re getting what you want…”

“Oh?”

Blake didn’t need to look at Yang to know exactly what expression went with that single word question. And she probably shouldn’t look at Yang right now, because the elevator ride down to the lobby was short and other people were often waiting right outside the doors when they got there. That wasn’t enough time to do anything that Yang might want to do…

“You know what I mean,” Blake replied, blushing regardless as her own mind considered the possibilities. Hearing Yang laugh as they stepped out into the lobby, Blake smiled as they made their way out into the early morning sunshine.

“I wanted to thank you, by the way.”

Blake glanced over at Yang, surprised by the unexpected gratitude.

“For what?”

“For being absolutely incredible!” Yang answered with a big grin. “But also for how much you helped with Weiss’ party. And by helped, I mean basically set the entire thing up yourself.”

“No need to thank me. I was happy to help.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t have to and did anyway.” Yang squeezed Blake’s hand to express even more appreciation before carrying on. “Do you think she had a good time?”

For the answer to that question, Blake thought back on the second half of the party - the part after Ruby arrived and Weiss came down from her tower.

“I think she did.”

“Good,” Yang answered with a nod. “I hope she did. I just get the feeling that she’s used to people...using her.”

“But that’s not you.”

“No way! I just want to be her friend! And use her to get all the free concert tickets I want!”

Laughing at the joke, Blake lightly squeezed Yang’s hand as they continued their early morning stroll. For the day having started off the way it did, it was actually a nice surprise to take a walk with Yang when there were fewer people than usual around. Sure, the store wasn’t far, but that didn’t mean Blake wouldn’t enjoy their temporary privacy while it lasted.

“It’s nice out,” she said - commenting more on the company than on the weather.

“It is. Although I’d walk out into a blizzard as long as I got to walk with you.”

Chuckling at the line, Blake squeezed Yang’s hand and pulled them towards the small, neighborhood store that would surely have everything they needed. Fortunately, the store opened even earlier than either of them normally woke up. Walking through the sliding glass doors into the fully air conditioned space beyond, Blake paused and looked to Yang for direction.

“What are we getting exactly?”

“Ok, uh...well we have flour and stuff, so we need strawberries, raspberries, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, whipped cream - the extra creamy kind, not that regular stuff - rainbow sprinkles, fudge sauce, and about five different bags of candy.”

For a few seconds, Blake merely stared at Yang in surprise at the list that had been rattled off.

“I thought we were making pancakes?” she eventually asked.

“We are!”

“But...that sounds more like an ice cream bar.” Seeing Blake’s consternation, Yang laughed and picked up one of the hand baskets to be filled with...sugar, apparently.

“Just wait, Blake. Just wait.”

“Don’t keep me waiting long,” she teased, sending Yang a wink and immediately blushing when Yang subconsciously licked her lips. Clearing her throat, Blake turned back towards the aisles in front of them and tried to wipe that thought from her mind. “What do you think - divide and conquer?”

When Yang scoffed at the suggestion, Blake looked over in surprise.

“Yeah, right!” Yang said. “We stick together. That guy over there is already making eyes at you.”

Finding the guy Yang was referring to, Blake laughed.

“Yang, he’s looking at you.”

“No, he’s totally staring at you! Oh, and now he’s coming over. Ok, try not to make him fall in love with you.”

Shaking her head while Yang tried to act nonchalant, Blake watched the young man approach them. He was around their age, decently handsome, and most definitely far more interested in Yang than in her.

“You’re Yang Xiao Long, right?” he asked, stopping a polite distance away and lifting one hand in question.

“You know, some mornings I think I am, but others I’m not so sure,” Yang answered with an easy smile that made him laugh. As usual, she found a simple response that put people at ease - breaking a bit of the ‘unapproachable celebrity’ vibe some of her coworkers had all but perfected.

That aloof persona was so far from who Yang was though - and it was just another trait that Blake adored. Yang had a smile ready for anyone and everyone, but...there were certain smiles that were only for Blake. That little caveat worked wonders in keeping the feelings of jealousy at bay.

“I hope you don’t mind,” Yang’s newest ‘favorite’ fan said, taking a step forward. “But could I get a picture with you? I’m a huge fan of your movies.”

“Sure, no problem!”

Grinning at his good fortune, the guy scrambled to pull out his phone - very nearly dropping it when it fumbled out of his pocket.

“Want me to take it?” Blake offered, slightly worried he would hurt himself trying to take the photo while being so close to Yang.

“Yeah, sure! Thanks!”

When he handed the phone over, Blake stood in front while Yang gave her a bright smile before turning to their newest acquaintance.

“That’s my girlfriend, by the way,” Yang said in a loud whisper. “Isn’t she beautiful?”

It was a trick question - with neither answer likely to make Yang happy. Thankfully, the young man was too absorbed in Yang’s presence to fully formulate a response.

“U-uh, I mean, yeah, I guess,” he sputtered, his eyes never leaving Yang as she laughed. Apparently he’d just passed the test.

Turning to Blake, they both smiled and she took a couple of photos in a row so he could choose the best one.

“Thank you so much!” he said, taking his phone from Blake before giving them both a huge smile and rushing off - most likely dying to tell all of his friends about his good fortune.

“You just made his day,” Blake said, walking back to Yang as she picked up the basket again.

“Now let’s make mine!” Yang replied, taking Blake’s hand and pulling her towards the nearest aisle. “We have pancakes to make!”

“And ice cream sundaes,” Blake added, smiling at the sound of Yang’s laughter as they whizzed through the store together.

They ended up with six different kinds of candy to go along with the fruit, ice cream, whipped cream, and three types of juices - orange, apple, and grape. Blake carried two of the bottles of juice up to the counter - one in each hand - since Yang had vastly underestimated how much food a small hand basket could carry.

“Ruby’s probably still sleeping,” Yang commented while the clerk rang up their items. “She said she’ll text me when she’s up - and she gets hungry like minutes after waking up so she’ll probably come over right away.”

“Ok.” Paying for the groceries and giving the clerk a quick ‘thank you,’ Blake grabbed one of the bags and followed Yang towards the exit. “So what you’re saying is that once she texts you, we don’t have much time to prepare.”

“That’s why we need to get ready early.”

“Well let’s get home then, slowpoke,” Blake teased, playfully bumping her bag into Yang’s side to get her moving faster.

“I’m the slowpoke?? Who’s the one that takes forever to find their shoes?”

Catching Yang’s grin, Blake shook her head. “If you didn’t have so many pairs in the closet, it’d be easier for me to find what I want to wear.”

“Ok, ok. I know better than to try to fight that battle -”

“Because you’ll lose,” Blake joked, smiling when Yang laughed and nodded.

“I’ll absolutely lose. But I always lose to you - hard to win when you’re so freaking gorgeous!”

The two things seemed uncorrelated in Blake’s mind, but the compliment warmed her heart anyway. And, as Yang held the door to their building open, Blake stopped and gave her a grateful kiss on the lips before heading inside.

“You realize someone probably got a picture of that.”

“I don’t care,” Blake replied, stepping into the elevator and trying not to smile at the huge grin Yang was wearing while practically skipping inside. “If they did, hopefully I can get a copy and keep it forever.”

“If you want more pictures of us kissing, all you need to do is say the word. And if you want more than that -”

“We’ve already had that conversation, Yang,” Blake interrupted, her cheeks heating up regardless of them being alone in the elevator as it took them back to their home.

“I just love seeing you blush,” Yang replied, far too happy with how successful she’d been yet again.

“I’m curious,” Blake added, a change of topic thankfully appearing in her mind as Yang used the keys to unlock the door to their shared home. “Where does Ruby stay when she’s in Vale?”

“She has a little apartment nearby - nothing fancy.”

“She does?” Surprised by the answer, Blake sent Yang a glance as they set their bags down on the island in the kitchen. “She keeps paying for it even though she’s not here?”

“Oh, no. Wait, I haven’t told you this before?”

“Told me what?”

“Well, uh, I pay for it,” Yang answered, giving Blake an almost apologetic smile for the reply.

“You do?”

“Yeah. I mean, it’s not expensive. She wasn’t going to keep it, but I wanted her to always have a place to come home to. I hope that’s ok?”

Blake’s surprise in this moment had everything to do with the revelation that there was still more to learn about Yang, even after all this time. Living together, she’d expected most of the mysteries and unexpected discoveries to fall by the wayside but...well, Yang found a way to keep things interesting.

“Why wouldn’t that be ok?” Blake asked, pulling the ice cream containers out of a bag and putting them in the freezer. “That’s your decision.”

“Yeah, but…” Pausing that thought, Yang shook her head and turned away, but not before Blake caught the soft blush that was growing.

“But what?” she pressed, leaving the groceries in favor of walking over to Yang. It wasn’t like Yang to be bashful - at least, not since they’d first started dating. Seeing this side of her return was a treat indeed. The shy, slightly lowered gaze, the ever-fidgeting hands, the shuffling feet...Blake loved every bit of it.

“It just...kinda feels like it should be our decision,” Yang finally answered. The implication nearly made Blake take a step backwards in surprise, but instead she stepped forward - into Yang’s space in order to take her hands and squeeze them reassuringly.

“If you’re asking me,” Blake said, her heart swelling in affection from that single statement alone. “Then yes - I’m completely ok with paying for a place for your sister to stay.”

When Yang grinned, Blake leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her lips.

“Glad you agree,” Yang said only after Blake moved away. “Maybe...maybe we can make more of those decisions together? Or like, all of them?”

Up until this moment, they’d kept their finances separately - neither of them hurting for money, but neither of them feeling the need to have a major discussion about it either. Blake felt that maybe Yang wanted to wait and see how things turned out, but...maybe Yang had been waiting for Blake instead.

“I’d love that,” Blake answered, giving Yang’s hands a little shake of happiness. “You’re very sweet, you know that?”

“I hope you still feel that way after you see how much I spend on shoes…”

Laughing at the joke, Blake looped both arms around Yang’s neck and pulled her down for a kiss. Blake loved kissing Yang in the morning. Or the afternoon. Anytime, really, but morning kisses seemed more satisfying for some reason. Maybe it was because they weren’t able to kiss for the entire night while they were sleeping, and this was what it felt like to make up for lost time.

Either way, she enjoyed morning kisses immensely. With nowhere to be and nothing to do for several hours, they were free to savor it in full - which Blake could feel Yang doing as their lips locked together and she slid her hands down Blake’s sides. Gently, Yang pressed Blake up against the island, and those wandering hands started fiddling with the hem of Blake’s shirt.

Feeling a surge of passion course through her, Blake dropped one arm from Yang’s neck, but felt her elbow knock into something on the way down.

The sound of metal hitting granite shocked them both apart, before Yang stretched to one side and caught the bottle of whipped cream before it rolled off the counter.

When Yang held up the whipped cream, Blake fought a furious blush that she’d been the one to ruin that moment so handily. Clearing her throat, she tried to find a set of words that might save her from her current embarrassment.

“So, uh…” she said, before shaking her head and giving up.

“If you wanted to get a little more frisky, you could’ve just said so.” When Yang grinned like a fool and shook the can, Blake playfully shoved her shoulder.

“Don’t we have breakfast to make?”

“Yeah, yeah - but after!” Yang gave Blake a questioning look, but Blake pretended not to see it in favor of taking their myriad of fruits to the sink to be washed.

“I’m totally taking that as a ‘yes,’” Yang said, laughing while putting the can back on the island - this time further from the edge. “Ok, how about I start the pancakes, and you wash the fruits and cut them into pancake-friendly pieces?”

“You mean what I was already going to do?” Blake asked, raising one brow and gesturing towards the fruit in front of her.

“Ok, it’s really hard to think of things before you do! Take it easy on the poor dumb blonde, won’t you?”

“Never.” Turning on the faucet, Blake shot Yang a teasing smirk. “That’s not why you’re dating me.”

“That’s the truth. I’m dating you because you’re unbelievably smart, incredibly sexy, super fine -”

Chuckling at the list, Blake washed the strawberries and raspberries - and Yang was cut off by a buzzing sound. Looking over her shoulder, Blake watched curiously as Yang picked up her phone and smiled at whatever she read on the screen.

“Listen to this,” Yang said before reading aloud, “‘Thank you for the wonderful party last night. I really appreciate the effort both you and Blake put into celebrating my birthday. I enjoyed spending time with you and your friends, plus having the chance to meet your sister.’”

Reaching the end of the message, Yang grinned.

“That was sweet of her,” Blake replied, feeling her own heart warm at the thought that Weiss had enjoyed her birthday.

“She had a good time!” Yang cheered, raising both hands in success before dropping them just as quickly. “Oh dang, we should’ve invited her for breakfast!”

“She has plans this morning with her family, remember?”

“Oh. That’s right.”

“But we could always invite her over another time,” Blake added, pulling out a cutting board and knife so she could cut the strawberries into smaller pieces.

“You’re right, we should do that...oh! We should invite Pyrrha though!!” As the idea occurred to her, Yang typed out a message and sent it off with a grin. “Pyrrha loves Ruby. I’m sure she’ll stop by if she’s free.”

“If she’s even awake this morning,” Blake replied with a shake of her head. “I bet she’s still sleeping.”

“Me too. But she can get here late! No pancakes for her.”

“No pancakes for anyone if you don’t start making them soon,” Blake teased.

“Relax, Blake. Pancakes take like...fifteen minutes to make,” Yang replied, flashing a grin and ducking the strawberry Blake flung her way. “Ok, ok! I’ll make ‘em,” Yang added, grabbing the stray fruit off the far counter and popping it in her mouth.

While Yang was pulling supplies out of the cabinets, her phone buzzed a second time. Leaning over, Blake checked who the message was from.

“It’s your sister.”

“What??” Walking over with a bowl in one hand, Yang tapped the screen. “She woke up early? Oh crap. I forget she’d still be on Vacuo time…”

“Well I’m almost done with my tasks…”

“Oh shush,” Yang said, laughing while quickly finding the ingredients she needed. While Yang mixed up a batter and started frying up three pancakes at a time, Blake piled all the fruits into bowls before doing the same with the candy they’d gotten. Those went onto the dining table before being joined by plates, silverware, and napkins - then glasses and the three bottles of juice. Last, but certainly not least, she pulled out both cartons of ice cream and set them down with the canister of whipped cream.

Honestly, it looked far more like an ice cream bar than a breakfast table...

“Oh, syrup!” Blake exclaimed, suddenly realizing they’d forgotten the most quintessential pancake topping during their quest to get everything else. “We don’t have any syrup, do we?”

“Naw, don’t worry about it. She uses the ice cream instead.”

“What are we supposed to use then?” Blake asked. Turning away from the pan for a few seconds, Yang shrugged her shoulders and laughed.

“Whipped cream, maybe? Or do what Ruby does and put candy in between pancakes so it melts into a gooey, chocolatey mess.”

Seeing Blake’s expression of disbelief, Yang nodded and flipped a few more pancakes out of the pan.

“You’ll see…”

A fast, double knock hit the door - making Yang spin around with a huge smile in place.

“That’s gotta be her!”

“I’ll get it,” Blake replied while walking over to the door, unwittingly smiling at how happy Yang looked.

Admittedly, Blake was moderately nervous about seeing Ruby again. When they’d met last night, there were plenty of other people around - many of whom knew Ruby and were excited for the chance to speak with her. There hadn’t been much opportunity for Blake and Ruby to spend time getting to know one another. And...Ruby was very important to Yang, so it was important that Blake earn Ruby’s blessing.

Unlocking the door and pulling it open, Blake was immediately greeted by a wave of energy.

“You need to see -!” Ruby immediately said before her eyes widened upon seeing Blake. “Oh, hi Blake! You’re already here!”

The word choice made Blake tilt her head in confusion.

“Ruby!” Yang called out from the kitchen. “Get over here, shortstack!”

Sending Blake a blinding grin, Ruby skipped inside to say ‘hello’ to her sister with a huge hug.

“Already here?” Blake repeated while following Ruby to the kitchen, trying to figure out why the comment didn’t make sense to her.

“Yeah! I mean, I thought I’d get here first, but I guess I woke up kinda late so…” Words trailing off, Ruby shrugged and chuckled at wherever that thought had ended up. Glancing around the apartment, she grinned at Yang. “Did you redecorate? Looks awesome! When’d you get so many books?”

When Ruby waved towards the bookcase in the living room (which was filled with Blake’s books), Yang glanced that way before her eyes widened in shock.

“Ohhh my god,” she said, shooting Blake a look before turning back to Ruby. “I never told you that Blake moved in!”

Ah - that’s why the phrase seemed off kilter.

“You moved in together??” Ruby asked, the shock quickly wearing off as she hit her sister in the shoulder. “How could you forget to tell me that??”

“I don’t know, how could you forget to tell me you’d be back in Vale last night?” Yang responded, playfully smacking Ruby’s hand away from the plate of finished pancakes.

“Guess we both have terrible memories.” Shrugging, Ruby waited until Yang’s gaze returned to the stove before snatching a pancake and shoving the whole thing in her mouth. “Tha-sh aw-shom tho-”

Yang shot her sister a suspicious glare before nodding towards something Ruby was holding in her hands.

“Whatcha got there?” Yang asked, flipping another set of finished pancakes onto the platter filling with them.

“This? Oh, uh, it’s nothing.”

“‘Nothing?’ Since when do you carry around ‘nothing?’”

“Since forever!” Ruby said, holding what appeared to be a magazine behind her back and sending Blake a worried glance. “It’s no big deal, Yang. I can show you later -”

“Come on, hand it over.”

Watching in curiosity, Blake could read the emotions flitting through Ruby’s eyes - an openness of emotion similar to Yang’s own expressive eyes.

“Fine,” Ruby finally agreed, handing the magazine over to Yang. Taking it and giving Ruby a teasing slap on the shoulder, Yang flipped it around to read the front page - and let her jaw fall slightly in surprise.

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Ruby replied. “I saw it on my way over and wanted to warn you!”

Now fully curious, Blake looked between Ruby and Yang before walking over to see what was causing such a stir.

“What is it?” she asked, reading the cover over Yang’s shoulder.

As it turned out, it was one of the tabloid magazines Blake religiously stayed away from. On the cover was a huge photo of Yang and Pyrrha - the two of them were eating lunch together, but the picture caught them at a moment when Yang was leaning across the table. From the camera angle, it almost looked like Yang was leaning in for a kiss...and the headline certainly didn’t help.

‘Writing’s on the Wall? Yang Xiao Long spotted being more than friendly with Pyrrha Nikos.’

To add insult to injury, they’d included a photo of Blake - only to add a graphic that made it appear as if she was being torn off of the page.

Taking the magazine from Yang’s hands, Blake shook her head while looking at it.

“You’re cheating on me again, Yang?” she said, adding a few ‘tsks’ before holding the magazine up so Yang would look at it. “And with Pyrrha this time? What am I going to do with you?”

First Yang read Blake’s eyes, searching for any hint that Blake was truly bothered by the photo. Finding none, Yang laughed and shook her head.

“You know me - can’t keep me caged for too long. Sooner or later, you’ve gotta let me fly! Or, you know, go out to lunch with other people.”

Chuckling, Blake shared a smile with Yang before noticing the way Ruby was looking back and forth between them, completely floored by the interaction.

“You aren’t mad?” she asked.

“Of course not,” Blake replied. “It’s not true.”

“Well yeah, I figured that. But like...I was worried you’d be nervous or something.”

Shaking her head, Blake casually tossed the magazine facedown on the countertop.

“I’ll only be nervous when someone can make her blush like I can,” she answered. To prove her point, she leaned over and gave Yang a quick peck on the cheek - causing her to turn bright red in the process.

Ruby stared at them, but with this goofy smile on her face. And then she started laughing - this infectious giggle that made Yang chuckle while turning off the stove.

“You’re really cool!” Ruby added, nodding enthusiastically. “Cinder flipped out about that stuff, remember?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me,” Yang replied. Picking up the plate of pancakes, she gave Blake a warm smile while nodding towards the table. “Now come on, let’s eat!”

Following Yang and Ruby to the table, Blake took the seat across from Ruby and waited for Ruby and Yang to serve themselves first.

If someone was looking for a reason to be upset, that photograph would certainly do it. But if Blake looked for reasons to be upset, there’d be no feasible way for the two of them to stay together. With Yang’s visibility and popularity, photos like this were bound to happen - catching her in just the wrong position at just the wrong time.

It wouldn’t be fair to punish Yang for something she had little-to-no control over. Plus, Blake knew - in the way Yang looked at her, spoke to her, touched her, kissed her - she knew in every ‘I love you’ that Yang would be careful with her heart.

And she knew that, if she ever felt the tiniest bit insecure, she could talk to Yang about it - and that she’d be reassured in droves.

That was one of the most wonderful parts of their relationship...that it took no effort at all to trust one another, regardless of what the world threw their way.

Reaching over, Blake gave Yang’s hand a loving squeeze before watching in fascination as Ruby spread a handful of candy between each layer of the pancake tower she’d built before piling ice cream on top and using the whipped cream to cover the sides. Basically...Ruby added sugar until the actual food was no longer visible.

Deciding to try out a little bit of the ice cream with fruit on top, Blake created a far more subdued breakfast while Ruby began demolishing hers.

“Mmm these are so good!” Cutting off another forkful, Ruby sent her sister a grin. “I’ve missed your cooking so much!”

“I’ve missed you so much,” Yang replied, not at all embarrassed to admit such a thing. “You’re sticking around for a while, right?”

“Yeah! I mean, I don’t have any plans to leave right now.”

The response was noncommittal, but Yang still looked thrilled while she finished a bite of her own breakfast. “Cool!” she said after. “Want me to get you some parts?”

“Oh yeah! Can you? That’d be fun!” Before Blake could even ask what they were talking about, Ruby turned towards her. “Yang gets me parts as an extra at the studio! It’s really awesome.”

“Ruby’s actually been in way more movies than me,” Yang added, giving her sister a proud grin for that accomplishment.

“I have!”

“That sounds like fun,” Blake said, watching Ruby devour another pancake in between breaths. “What have they asked you to do - as an extra, I mean?”

“Lots of stuff! I’ve gotten to run from zombies, and run from explosions, and run across a bridge that was about to fall…”

“So, you run from things, basically?”

Ruby beamed and nodded. “Yup! Although they didn’t actually have zombies chasing us. That was a bummer…”

Sensing the genuine disappointment behind those words, Blake couldn’t help but to chuckle. Ruby really was a unique, endearing soul...

“What was your favorite part?” Blake asked, both curious and seeking to keep the conversation going.

“Oh! Well, this one time there was an explosion in a building and everyone had to run down the street away from it. But Yang was standing outside saying, ‘That way, that way - keep going!’ and waving people in the right direction. When I ran past her, she rustled my hair!”

When Yang laughed at the cute memory, Blake decided that Ruby might just be the most adorable person she’d ever met.

“They kept that shot in the final cut too,” Yang said, her eyes positively sparkling as she looked at Blake. “You can just barely see it with how the camera angles worked out. I can show you later.”

“Please do.”

“I wanna watch too!”

“Ruby, you’ve seen that movie like a hundred times.”

“So? It’s awesome!” Reaching for another pancake, Ruby grinned across the table at Blake. “Yang’s movies are my favorites. I love watching her be the hero! Except I always cry when she gets stabbed…”

“One time I got stabbed - and I’m completely fine!”

“Now you are!” Shaking her head, Ruby pulled the ice cream container over to her. “I skip that part.”

“I remember that scene,” Blake said, sending a glance Yang’s way. “You sold it too well.”

“You guys are simultaneously complimenting me and making me feel horrible for doing my job!” Yang whined. “At least choose one or the other!”

Smiling, Blake reached over and patted Yang’s hand.

“You’re fantastic at what you do,” she said, watching Yang’s eyes light up in delight at the compliment. “Sometimes it’s just a little painful for the people who love you.”

“Aww...you guys are so cute!”

Yang smiled while Blake felt the hint of a blush dust her cheeks. Ruby seemed to say whatever popped in her mind, or was unafraid to say things others might normally hold at bay. It was a refreshing, if not mildly embarrassing, trait.

“Yang said you’re the best writer in the whole world!” Ruby said between bites.

“Did she?” Blake sent Yang an appreciative smile for the exaggeration. Even if it wasn’t true, it was nice that Yang believed in her so fully.

“Yeah! ‘The most talented writer ever,’ was what she said. I think.” Ruby paused for a second and tried to remember before shaking her head. “But I’m excited! Have you written anything I might’ve read? I totally wanna read your stuff!”

“You hardly read, Ruby,” Yang teased.

“I read sometimes! Like billboards or, I dunno, menus? Texts from Yang when I have a phone or service?”

Chuckling at the answer, Yang popped a raspberry in her mouth.

“What’s the last book you read?” Blake asked.

“Uhhh…I think it was like...something about how the number seven kills people.”

“Unlucky Seven?”

“Yeah! That was it. Oh man, I remember being super paranoid about the number for the longest time.”

“It was a good read,” Blake agreed. “But if that’s the type of book you’re looking for, I don’t know that I’ve written anything remotely close.”

“Oh, I don’t mind - I’ll read anything! Besides, you’re practically family now, so I should read all your books. Just like I watch all of Yang’s movies!”

The kind words were far more than Blake expected at this point in time, but Ruby sent a genuine smile across the table to go with her acceptance.

If Blake had been worried about winning Ruby’s approval...well, she was a little less worried now.

“I’ll get you copies of everything,” she said, smiling back to Ruby. “But please don’t feel like you have to read any of them.”

When Ruby made a happy noise and finished off her plate of pancakes, Blake turned to find Yang looking between the two of them with a huge smile in place.

“Has Yang read all of them?” Ruby asked after her breakfast was done.

“You bet I have!” Yang answered with a proud smile. “Just a warning though - there are a lot.” Pausing for a second, Yang laughed when a thought occurred to her. “When we first started dating, I stayed up basically all night for a week straight reading them. I didn’t want to look dumb, but instead I think I came off like an exhausted, crazy stalker.”

Blake laughed at the memory.

“Just a bit,” she joked. “I wasn’t expecting you to have read any of them, so when you started quoting passages I was...well, shocked, to say the least.”

“Shocked enough that you fell in love with me!”

“Absolutely. I knew you were a keeper if you were willing to do that.”

The two of them shared a smile, fondly remembering that period of their relationship before Yang turned back to Ruby.

“You’re gonna love ‘em though. They’re so freaking good. Love, betrayal, action, adventure, basically all the good stuff. And did I mention love? Because man there’s some great romance.”

A small blush heated Blake’s cheeks from the endless compliments, which Yang never seemed to run out of. To make matters even more humbling, Ruby was nodding enthusiastically at her sister’s words.

“I can’t wait to read them - I could use some more love in my life!”

“Good thing you’re back then!” Yang replied, reaching over and lovingly tussling Ruby’s short hair.

“Yangggg!”

“What? I haven’t gotten to do that in forever!”

“That doesn’t mean you need to do it now!”

While they playfully bickered, Blake sat back and watched.

Pandas. Adorable, adorable baby pandas.

When Yang finished giving her sister a hard time, she let out a happy sigh and gestured at Ruby’s empty plate.

“Are you done eating?”

“Yup! I’m stuffed!” Immediately after the reply, Ruby hopped to her feet and grabbed her plate. “I’ll clean up.”

“Naw, leave it for now - I want to hear about your trip!”

While Yang swiveled in her seat, Ruby walked into the kitchen and set her plate in the sink.

“At least let me clear off the table first!” she said, coming back to the table and grabbing the cartons of ice cream while Yang stared in surprise.

“Since when do you volunteer to clean up??”

“Since the time I didn’t and some crazy old guy told me I’d die a horrible death!” When Yang’s jaw dropped in surprise, Ruby solemnly nodded and said, “True story,” before heading to the freezer.

Catching Yang’s stunned expression, Blake smiled and stood to help clear the rest of the table. While dumping the bowls of candy back into their respective bags, she watched with interest as Ruby put the bottles of juice into the fridge before finding a small container to put the leftover fruit in.

It was strange to realize that Ruby had been in this apartment far before Blake was ever in the picture. It showed in the way Ruby knew her way around the kitchen, and in how comfortable she was opening and closing cupboards that weren’t her own. Of course, why wouldn’t she be? This was her sister’s home - she was probably over here all the time whenever she was in Vale.

Which meant that she’d be over all the time for the foreseeable future. Surprisingly, the idea didn’t bother Blake in the slightest. They’d known each other for only a little while, but Ruby was a joy to spend time with. Her general aura was...uplifting.

“So how’d you like the party last night?” Yang asked, gently bumping Ruby’s elbow as they put some of the dishes in the sink. “Have fun?”

“It was awesome! So fun!”

“Yeah? And you got to meet Weiss! Did you like her?”

“Oh - yeah! I mean, she was...really, really cool. I didn’t expect her to be so pretty.”

Blake’s attention perked up at the word, but when Yang chuckled she decided that Ruby didn’t mean anything by it.

“She is pretty, huh,” Yang replied before looking around to see if they were done. Finding everything off the table, she clapped her hands and said, “Ok, story time!”

Ushering everyone into the living room, she motioned for Blake to sit on the sofa while Ruby paced the room.

“I really like all the changes!” Ruby remarked, her eyes scanning the shelves full of Blake’s books before moving on to the lavender window curtains Blake had picked out. “It feels a lot more...cozy.”

While Ruby stood by the coffee table, Yang sat down next to Blake and gently squeezed her knee.

“I think so too,” Yang said, leaning over and pressing a kiss to Blake’s cheek. “But tell us - what’ve you been up to?”

“Right! Oh man, I saw so much cool stuff - you wouldn’t believe it!”

Beaming at Ruby’s enthusiastic introduction to her trip, Yang bumped Blake’s shoulder.

“This is one of my favorite parts of Ruby coming home,” she explained. “Well, besides having Ruby at home again.”

“And it’s one of my favorite parts of coming back!” Ruby replied. “Well, besides getting to see Yang again.”

“You two are so cute,” Blake finally said out loud, shaking her head in utter disbelief at their adorableness. After they shared a smile, Ruby did a little hop for joy.

“Ok, story time! So I went to Mistral first because...why not?” she explained, her voice speeding up in excitement. “And I think I was only there for a couple days when I met this guy -”

“Hold the phone.” Yang raised her hand and paused Ruby’s story. “This guy isn’t a romantic interest, is he?”

Ruby giggled at the question - pretty much all the answer anyone needed before she said, “No, Yang - he was in his forties or something.”

After giving Blake a relieved smile, Yang leaned back and waved her hand. “Ok, then continue.”

“Alright, so I met this guy - the non-romantic guy - and he tells me about this treasure chest buried in the middle of the city!”

“Like beneath the streets or something?” Yang asked. “How would they do that??”

“Or maybe it was in a park?” Blake suggested, and Ruby nodded vigorously.

“In the middle of a park - he had a map and everything! But there were a bunch of rules, like you had to dig at exactly the right spot at exactly the right time otherwise you wouldn’t find it. He asked me to help him because he needed someone to hold the watch and make sure he started digging at the right second.”

“And I’m guessing you agreed to help him?” Yang asked.

“Of course! It was a lot of fun, too. We had to walk around the park, backwards as some parts, and then tap a few special trees. When we finally got to the right spot, he dug a deep hole. I wasn’t expecting to find anything, but we totally did!”

“Really?” Yang asked in surprise that Blake silently felt. “What was it??”

“An old watch. It was broken, too.” Chuckling to herself, Ruby shook her head. “He was kinda disappointed, but it was a fun treasure hunt while it lasted! Anyway, while I was leaving the park, I realized I still had his map stuck in my pocket. When I pulled it out, my phone went flying and landed in the middle of the street! Then it got run over by a couple cars before I could get it...and that’s how my first phone died.”

Blake stared in shock at the tragic turn of events, but Yang laughed in delight. And, before Ruby could continue her tale, there was a soft knock at the door.

“Oh, that’s probably Pyrrha,” Yang whispered, standing up to answer it. “You stay there,” she directed Ruby. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

Ruby watched intently as Yang walked over to the door and pulled it open. When she stepped out of the way, Pyrrha walked inside and found Ruby with an affectionate smile.

“Ruby,” Pyrrha barely managed to get out before Ruby let out a small squeal of excitement.

“Pyrrha!” she said before running over and launching herself into Pyrrha’s arms. Pyrrha managed to catch her - letting out an “oomph” while taking a step backward to cushion the unexpected force.

“At least you caught her this time,” Yang teased Pyrrha as she and Ruby separated.

“Oh, I’m really sorry I knocked you over last night!” Ruby quickly apologized.

“That’s ok,” Pyrrha replied, setting one hand reassuringly on Ruby’s shoulder. “I just wasn’t prepared then.”

“Had nothing to do with the gallon of champagne you drank,” Yang whispered loudly before yelping in surprise when Pyrrha landed an elbow in her side.

“Good morning, Blake,” Pyrrha said, nodding politely Blake’s way while Ruby looked between the two of them.

“Did you know they moved in together??”

The question made Pyrrha laugh and shake her head.

“That’s a good question seeing as how your sister hardly tells me anything. But yes, I did know they moved in together - mostly because Yang made me help clean the day before.”

When Blake shot her a curious look, Yang chuckled and ran a hand through her hair.

“I would’ve gladly helped, you know,” Blake said.

“Yeah, I know. But I wanted it to be perfect when you got here without you having to lift a finger.”

Flashing a modest grin, Yang only succeeded in making Blake’s heart melt a bit more.

“That’s very sweet of you,” she said, smiling and reaching over to squeeze Yang’s hand in appreciation.

“Yes, so I had to help instead,” Pyrrha added.

“But I’m sure you did a great job!” Ruby cut in. “Cuz you’re the best at everything!”

“Hey!” Yang shouted while Pyrrha smiled widely. “I thought I was the best at everything!”

“Oh I have missed you, Ruby,” Pyrrha said, giving Ruby a loving hug. When she pulled away, she sent Yang a triumphant smile before turning her attention back to Ruby. “Let’s get lunch sometime. Just the two of us - we don’t need her anyway.”

“That sounds like fun!”

When Pyrrha sat down in an oversized chair, Yang all but collapsed onto the sofa beside Blake, grumbling under her breath all the while. Meanwhile Ruby stood in front of them, and Blake could see why - Ruby really liked to walk and gesture while talking.

“You haven’t moved in with anyone while I was away, have you?” Ruby asked, narrowing her eyes at Pyrrha as if trying to read her mind. Opening her mouth, Pyrrha thought about the question for a second before smiling and shaking her head.

“No, I haven’t.”

“Wait -”

Blake grinned as soon as the word left Yang’s mouth. People might have many assumptions about Yang based upon her appearance and profession, but she was one of the most emotionally observant people Blake had ever met...especially when it related to opportunities to tease a friend.

“Did you catch that, Blake?” Yang asked, giving Blake a look that begged confirmation.

“I did.”

“What?? What did you see?” Ruby asked excitedly.

“Pyrrha! Is there something you’d like to tell me?” Yang asked. For her part, Pyrrha looked down at the arm of the chair before meeting Yang’s gaze with an innocent expression.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh nonono, you’re not getting off that easy.”

“You paused, Pyrrha,” Blake added, earning Yang’s vigorous nod of approval.

“You paused!” Yang repeated. “You have something you’re hiding from us!”

“Ok, fine.” Caving, Pyrrha leaned forward and motioned calmly with her hands. “Jaune and I might have talked about potentially moving in together, but it’s no big -”

“It’s a huge deal!” Yang interrupted. “I’m so happy for you two!”

“Nothing has been decided yet -”

“But the fact that you’re even thinking about it is awesome.”

When Pyrrha looked around the room and found nothing but cheerful smiles, she finally smiled - a bright, genuine smile that expressed a bit of her own inner happiness.

“Then you’ll help me clean if he decides to move in?” she teased.

“Woah, woah. Dunno if I’d go that far -”

“I’ll help!” Ruby offered. “I’ll help move furniture or paint or whatever you need me to do!”

“I’ll help too,” Blake added, giving Yang a sweet smile in response to her look of dismay.

“Ok, now you’re both just making me look bad.”

Laughing, Pyrrha leaned away and waved one hand to dismiss the topic. “We haven’t decided anything yet, but I appreciate your offers. But enough about me...I’m sorry that I’m a bit late. I didn’t miss much of the story, did I?”

“Nope! Not much!”

“We just heard the demise of phone number one,” Yang added, one of her hands now playing with Blake’s hair.

“Run over by a car after a treasure hunt,” Blake explained as Ruby bounced back to her spot standing in front of them.

“That’s a common one - the car part, at least. It’s actually surprising that you’ve never been hit by a car, Ruby,” Pyrrha commented with a light laugh. Her laugh slowly trickled off when Ruby scrapped one toe across the floor, scratching her head and laughing nervously.

“Uh...heh heh...that brings me to my next story…”

“What?!” Yang sat straight forward and gestured with her hands. “Who was it? I need their name and address.”

Blake laughed at the reply and patted Yang’s back.

“And what are you going to do with that information?”

“I’m gonna pay this guy a visit, that’s what I’m gonna do!”

When Blake and Pyrrha both laughed at the response, Ruby waved her hands to get everyone’s attention once more.

“One, it wasn’t even a guy!” she said. “Two, it was kind of completely my fault.”

Sitting back and leaning into Blake’s shoulder, Yang let out a loud sigh.

“Were you running across the street again?”

“No! Well, maybe. But it wasn’t my fault! I mean, running into the street wasn’t.”

As Ruby launched into another story, Blake alternately listened while shooting glances at Yang and Pyrrha. Each time she did so, she was greeted by a smile or a laugh bubbling to existence from Ruby’s antics. Pyrrha’s eyes sparkled in happiness watching Ruby gesture widely while going through her stories. And Yang...Yang’s eyes followed Ruby with such adoration that Blake felt her own heart glow with love.

It felt like her family had grown again - first to include Yang, then Pyrrha, then Weiss, and now Ruby. Sure, Ruby seemed like the type of person who would perpetually break routines, but Blake would willingly sacrifice any routine she had if only to see Yang this happy.

#RWBY #Bumblebee #Blake Belladonna #Yang Xiao Long #Red Carpet Romance

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blackkudos · 6 years ago

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Barbara Chase-Riboud

Barbara Chase-Riboud (born June 26, 1939) is an American visual artist, bestselling novelist and award-winning poet.

Established as a sculptor, Chase-Riboud attained international recognition with the publication of her first novel, Sally Hemings (1979). The novel has been described as the "first full blown imagining" of Hemings and her life as a slave, including her rumored relationship with President Thomas Jefferson. In addition to stimulating considerable controversy, as mainline historians then continued to deny this relationship, the book earned Chase-Riboud the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for the best novel written by an American woman. It sold more than one million copies in hardcover and it was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection. It was reissued in 1994, and in paperback in 2009, together with her novel, President's Daughter (1994), about Harriet Hemings.

Chase-Riboud has received numerous honors for her literary work, including the Carl Sandburg Prize for poetry and the Women's Caucus for Art's lifetime achievement award. In 1965, she became the first American woman to visit the People's Republic of China after the revolution. In 1996, she was knighted by the French Government and received the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

From September 2013 to January 2014, the Philadelphia Museum of Art presented Barbara Chase-Riboud: The Malcolm X Steles, a survey of work created between 1969 and 2008. This traveled to the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in February 12 - April 28, 2014. Her anthology of poetry from 1974 to 2008 is under press, as are her collected letters.

Early life and education

Barbara Chase was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the only child of Vivian May Chase, a histology technician, and Charles Edward Chase, a contractor. She was suspended from her middle school being accused, falsely, of plagiarism her poem "Autumn Leaves". Chase displayed an early talent for the arts and began attending the Fleisher Art Memorial School at the age of eight.

She attended Philadelphia High School for Girls from 1948 to 1952, graduating summa cum laude. During graduation, her text "Of Understanding" is read.

She continued her training at the Philadelphia Museum School of Art. Chase went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tyler School at Temple University in 1957.

In that same year, Chase won a John Hay Whitney fellowship to study at the American Academy in Rome for 12 months. There, she created her first bronze sculptures and exhibited her work. During this time, she traveled to Egypt, where she discovered non-European art. In 1960, Chase completed a master's degree from Yale University School of Design and Architecture. After completing her studies, Chase left the United States for London, then Paris.

Marriage and family

In Paris, Chase met Marc Riboud, a photographer who was part of the Magnum group. They married in 1961 on Christmas Day inside a church. The couple had two sons together, David Charles (b. 1964) and Alexis Karol (b. 1967). They traveled extensively in Russia, India, Greece and North Africa.

Years later they divorced. In 1981, Chase-Riboud married her second husband, Sergio Tosi, an art publisher and expert.

Visual arts career

At Temple University's Tyler School of Art, Chase studied with Boris Blai and "is instructed in sculpture, painting, graphic design, printmaking, color theory, and restoration." She also studied anatomical drawing at Temple University School of Medicine

In 1955, her woodcut Reba was displayed in the Carnegie Hall Gallery as a part of the exhibit It's All Yours (sponsored by Seventeen magazine). This woodcut was subsequently purchased by the Museum of Modern Art.

The Temple University yearbook Templar published fourteen of her woodcuts in 1956, and in 1958 Chase begins to experiment with bronze sculptures. She uses Lost-wax casting techniques.

Her first solo exhibition was at the Galleria L'Obelisco at the Spoleto Festival of Two Worlds in Italy in 1957. Her first museum exhibition in Europe was held at MOMA Paris in 1961. Her first solo exhibition in Paris was at the Galerie Cadran Solaire in 1966.

Her first public commission was completed in 1960 for the Wheaton Plaza in Wheaton, Maryland. This fountain was formed from pressed aluminum and incorporated abstract shapes, sound and light effects to add to the visual impact of the falling water.

In the late 1960s, Chase-Riboud began to garner broad attention for her sculpture. Nancy Heller describes her work as "startling, ten-foot-tall sculptures that combine powerful cast-bronze abstract shapes with veils of fiber ropes made from silk and wool".

Chase-Ribound and Betye Saar were the first African-American women to exhibit in Whitney Museum of American Art as a result of protests organized by Faith Ringgold. Her piece The Ultimate Ground was displayed in the exhibition Contemporary American Sculpture.

In 1971, Chase-Riboud was featured along with four other contemporaries in a documentary about African-American artists entitled "Five." The segment on Chase-Riboud showed her installation in 1970 at the Betty Parsons Gallery, as well as the artist working in her studio.

In 1996 Chase-Riboud was among artists commissioned for artwork at the preserved African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan. Her eighteen-foot bronze memorial, Africa Rising, was installed in the Ted Weiss Federal Building 1998. Chase-Riboud also wrote a poem with the same name as the sculpture.

Her work is in major corporate collections and museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art, New York City; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Geigy Foundation, New York; and Lannann Foundation, Los Angeles.

Literary career

Sally Hemings: A Novel

Chase-Riboud first established her reputation as a sculptor and poet. In 1979 she gained widespread attention and critical acclaim for her writing with her first novel Sally Hemings. It was based on the life of Thomas Jefferson's quadroon slave of that name; she was a much-younger half-sister to his late wife and was rumored to have been his concubine for years. In the Summer of 1974 Chase-Riboud had met with editor Jacqueline Onassis to discuss her plans for the work, and Onassis persuaded her to write it. Based on Jefferson's biography by Fawn M. Brodie, Chase-Riboud was among those who believed that Thomas Jefferson fathered six children with Hemings. The young slave was nearly 30 years younger than the president and little had been documented about her life.

Chase-Riboud was the first writer to present a fully realized, fictional character of Sally Hemings, with a rich interior life. Finally Sally Hemings had a voice. The public accepted her portrayal of Hemings and could believe such a woman had a relationship with Jefferson. Sally Hemings was vivid as an American historical figure. Chase-Riboud's book became an international bestseller and won the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize in fiction by an American woman.

It was so popular that CBS planned to adapt it as a TV mini-series. But mainline historians who were still "guarding" Jefferson as an icon of integrity put pressure on president William Paley to end the effort. No adaptation was made at the time.

But, more than 20 years later, CBS produced Sally Hemings: An American Scandal (2000), a made-for-TV mini-series that portrayed Hemings' and Jefferson's relationship. This has been widely accepted since a 1998 DNA study showed a match between a Hemings descendant and the Jefferson male line. Although some reviewers argued about the characterization of Sally Hemings, "no major historian challenged the series' premise that Hemings and Jefferson had a 38-year relationship that produced children." The series featured a beautiful actress as Sally Hemings, as historic accounts of her agreed on her beauty. It also presented African Americans of a range of skin tones, representing the many Hemings mixed-race descendants.

A rearguard of Jefferson historians has continued to deny the possibility of a relationship, but in 2000 and 2001 the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, and the National Genealogical Society independently announced their conclusions that Jefferson had likely fathered all of Hemings' children, based on both the DNA and other historical evidence. This historic consensus has been reflected in academic writing about Jefferson and his times. The Smithsonian Museum and Monticello collaborated on a groundbreaking exhibition in 2012 in Washington, DC: Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello, which explored Jefferson as a slaveholder and six of the major slave families. It said that Jefferson was likely the father of all Sally Hemings' children. The exhibit was seen by more than one million people.

Chase-Riboud explored the interweaving relationships between the Hemings' and Jefferson families; as Sally Hemings was a much younger half-sister of Jefferson's late wife, she was an aunt to his two daughters.

"In place of civic myths that deny America's mixed-race beginnings, Chase-Riboud turns to the Hemings family to unveil the historical presence of antebellum interracial relationships and the possibilities of a post-civil rights multiracial community."

Artists, poets, and writers have been thoroughly exploring the Jefferson-Hemings relationship since then.

In 1991, Chase-Riboud won an important copyright decision, Granville Burgess vs. Chase-Riboud. She had filed suit against the playwright of Dusky Sally in 1987, shortly before a production was to open at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. She said his work infringed on her copyright for her novel Sally Hemings because it borrowed her fictional ideas. Judge Robert F. Kelly concluded that while

"laws were not enacted to inhibit creativity ... it is one thing to inhibit creativity and another to use the idea-versus-expression distinction as something akin to an absolute defense -- to maintain that the protection of copyright law is negated by any small amount of tinkering with another writer's idea that results in a different expression."

He also said,

"the similarity between the two works is so obvious and so unapologetic that an ordinary observer can only conclude that Burgess felt he was justified in copying 'Sally Hemings,' or at least that there was no legal impediment to doing so, assuming a few modifications were made." The resulting decision constituted a significant victory for artists and writers, reinforcing protection for creative ideas even when expressed in a slightly different form."

Additional novels

Chase-Riboud continued her literary exploration into slavery and exploitation of African people with her subsequent novels. Valide: A Novel of the Harem (1986) examined slavery in the Ottoman empire. Her Echo of Lions (1989) was one of the first serious novels about the historic Amistad slave-ship revolt of 1839.

In 1994, Chase-Riboud published The President's Daughter, a work that continued the Sally Hemings story, by imagining the life of her and Jefferson's mixed-race daughter Harriet Hemings. At the age of 21, Harriet left Monticello, given traveling money by Jefferson via his overseer, and went North. She settled in Washington, DC where her brother Beverley had already settled. Like him, she passed into white society. She married a white man, according to her letters to her brother Madison Hemings. He was the only one of the four surviving Hemings children who lived the remainder of his life identifying as African-American.

Chase-Riboud's most recent novel, Hottentot Venus: A Novel (2003), humanizes Sarah Baartman, a Khoikhoi woman who was exhibited naked in freak shows in 19th-century Europe.

Lawsuit: Chase-Riboud v. Dreamworks

In 1997, Chase-Riboud settled a suit against DreamWorks for $10 million on charges of copyright infringement of her novel. The author claimed that the screenplay for Steven Spielberg's film Amistad (1997) plagiarized her novel on the topic. It was finally established that David Franzoni, the sole credited screenwriter on Amistad, had spent 3 years, beginning in 1993, writing a script based on Chase-Riboud's book, Echo of Lions. This was under an option held by Dustin Hoffman's Punch production. Chase-Riboud's book which she had sold to Dustin Hoffman's production company which Fransconi claimed he had never read. Burt Fields DreamWorks main lawyer was at the same time unknown to Chase-Ribouds attorneys a stockholder, lawyer and board member of Punch productions who did not rescue himself from the suit, on the contrary he managed to have Punch Productions dropped from the original complaint and Fransconi was never obliged to testify under oath." He may have carried over some of his thinking to his screenplay for Amistad. When Chase-Riboud filed a second suit against DreamWorks in France, the dispute was quickly settled out of court for an undisclosed amount days before the 1998 Oscar nominations were announced.

Poetry

Chase-Riboud's first work of poetry, From Memphis & Peking (1974), was edited by Toni Morrison and published to critical acclaim. Her poetry volume, Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra, (1987), won the Carl Sandburg Award in 1988. In 1994, Chase-Riboud published Roman Egyptien, poetry written in French. In 2014, Barbara Chase-Riboud published "Everytime a Knot is Undone, a God is Released".

Legacy and honors

1957, John Hay Whitney Fellowship

National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship

1979, Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Excellence in Fiction by an American woman, for Sally Hemings.

1988, Carl Sandburg Prize for Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra

1993, honorary Doctorate of Letters from Muhlenberg College.

1995, James Van Dar Zee Award for Lifetime Achievement

1996, honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Connecticut.

1996, knighted by the French Government and awarded the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.

1996, commissioned by the United States General Services Administration for the memorial, Africa Rising, at 240 Broadway, site of the newly designated African Burial Ground National Monument, next to the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan.

2004 Nominated Hurston-Wright Legacy Award (Fiction) for Hottentot Venus

2005 "Best Fiction Book of 2004" by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association for Hottentot Venus

2007, College Art Association Women's Caucus for Art lifetime achievement award.

2007, Alain Locke Award from Detroit Institute of Arts

Selected works

Sculptures

Last Supper (1958)

Bullfighter (1958)

Malcolm X (1970)

Why Did We Leave Zanibar (1971)

Confession for Myself (1973)

Cleopatra's Cape (1973)

Africa Rising (1998)

Mao's Organ (2008)

Novels

Sally Hemings: A Novel (1979). ISBN 978-0-312-24704-1/reprinted in paperback, 2009

Valide: A Novel of the Harem (1986). ISBN 978-0-688-04334-6

Echo of Lions (1989). ISBN 978-0-688-06407-5

The President's Daughter (1994). ISBN 978-0-345-38970-1/reprinted in paperback, 2009

Hottentot Venus: A Novel (2003). ISBN 978-0-385-50856-8

Poetry

From Memphis & Peking (1974). ISBN 978-0-394-48899-8

Portrait of a Nude Woman as Cleopatra (1987). ISBN 978-0-688-06403-7

"Everytime a Knot is Undone, a God is Released" (2014). ISBN 978-1-60980-594-4

Wikipedia

#Barbara Chase-Riboud #06-26

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