#Pyrrha would finish what Salem started

[superiorsturgeon]

Touch of Gray

Jaune: *relaxing on the couch with Pyrrha, gently playing with his hair*

Jaune: …hey Pyr?

Pyrrha: *looks up from her magazine* Hmm? What is it, Jaune?

Jaune: Hypothetically, what would you think if I started going gray as I got older…?

Pyrrha: 🤔

Pyrrha’s Vision of the Future:

Pyrrha: 😍 MMMmmmm…..!

????: …pyrr…

????: …rha…Pyrr…ha!

Jaune: …PYRRHA!!

Pyrrha: AAHH!! I’m sorry!

Jaune: You kinda…spaced out there for a minute, Pyr! Whatcha thinking about?

Pyrrha: *looks away* Oh, nothing~! 😅

Jaune: Now that I’m thinking about it, what if I started going bald like my granddad? That’d be pretty ridiculous! 🥚

Pyrrha: …

Pyrrha: …No. I will fight the universe to stop that horrible future from coming to be.

Jaune: …this conversation took a really unsettling turn. You know I’m kidding, right?

Pyrrha: I will kill the gods for that head of hair. 👿

God of Light/God of Darkness: *just returned, immediately depart Remnant again* NOPE!!!

[rachetmath]

Jaune Revenge

Winter: Ruby we found her.

Ruby: Cinder. Everyone it's time.

Yang: Ruby no-

Ruby: I have to stop her. I am the only one.

Jaune: What?

Ruby: It has to be me.

Jaune: Who the hell- who the hell decided that?!

Ruby: She is my problem.

Jaune: I know this- oh hell no she- Ruby!

Ruby: Farewell my friend. I pray that I return.

Jaune: Oh hell-

After a minute what seemed like hours of fighting.

Cinder: Yes finally.

Ruby: *barely catching her breath*

Cinder: After all this time… you finally die Ruby R-

*Boom*

Cinder: *screams in pain*

Ruby: *looks behind her* Jaune. 

Jaune: *throws the gun away and slaps Ruby across her face* The f*** is wrong with you?!

Ruby Ow.

Jaune: You really think I would let you steal my prey? My kill? After all the bull**** that b**** put me through. The f***!

Ruby: Jaune I-

Jaune: I had dreams. Dreams of when I have this b**** in my sights. As her life is now in the palm of my hands. Having her beg for forgiveness has I take what little breath she has from her now feeble hands. Oh God yes… 

Ruby: …. Um

Jaune: And have you learned nothing from your people? Penny? Pyrrha? Alyx?!

Ruby: Whoa Jaune don't be–

Jaune: Stop running off somewhere, prepared to die. We do not do 1 v 1. We jump people. It is the most effective means to win. You are not built for that kind of time. There is no shame in having a squad, especially for enemies.

Ruby: But-

Jaune: Like your uncle, he sucks. He has lost a one-on-one every time since Beacon. Winter, hit him. Tyrian poisoned him. Hazel could have ended his career.  Your uncle needed two other hunters to take Tyrian in. He even required Tyrian to fight Clover. Your uncle isn't about that action. 

Ruby: Well sheesh…

Jaune: Now you excuse me- *pulls out the sword* I will finish this.

Cinder: You weakling. You piece of crap. What are you going to do to me huh? Kill me. Don't make me laugh. You don't have the- *stab in her arm* Ah! *mouths is covered*

Jaune: Oh no Fall maiden, we are just getting started. 

Cinder: *scared*

Nora: Ruby, sorry we’re late but-

Cinder: *screams in agony* My legs! My legs!

RWBY: *shock*

Jaune: Nah-nah we ain't done yet. This is for Pyrrha.*beats Cinder down*

Cinder: *yells in pain* Help me! Help me! Ruby help me! Please!

NERO: *scared*

Jaune This one's for Penny! *Stab Cinder's chest*

Cinder:  *screams*

Jaune: *healing and stabbing Cinder repeatedly* No, you gonna feel this. Yeah. Yeah!!

NPRA: *Summer and Alyx are shocked while Pyrrha and Penny fist pump*

RHAW: *Glad they never met Jaune*

Adam: Oh it was good that I didn't try to fight him on the train.

Hazel: Even though I know I can beat him…. It scares me that he could have a chance of killing me himself. 

Ironwood: Oh so he finally learned. Thank God. 

Clover: Sir please-

Ironwood: We died because of these kids, Clover, I have a right to be like this.

Cinder: No. No. Not my eye. Not my last eye, please! *screams as her eye is pulled out*

Salem: *watching from a far* Oo she will die. Not my problem.

Jaune: *exiles* 

Cinder: *dead* 

Jaune: Finally. And Oscar.

Oscar: Um… yeah-yeah what is it?

Jaune: Are you Ozpin now?

Oscar: N-no. Nope. I'm still here.

Jaune: Your girl. Your problem. I am tired of being the third wheel. The seventh wheel really.

Weiss: I mean -

Jaune: Figure out what you want in life then we'll talk.

Emerald: Oh my God I have maiden powers. I was Cinder’s last thoughts. I-

Jaune: *readies his sword*

Emerald: Jaune-Jaune calm down. We are good. We are good. Best behavior.

Jaune: You damn right b****.

Emerald: Jesus what have you been through on that island?!

Jaune: Isolation is a b****!

Cinder: *in hell and curled up in a ball*

Rogue: How was your freedom as a slave?

Cinder: Shut up. And why are you here?

Hazel: Are you serious? He left you unsupervised, and in a family where you were put through extreme work conditions to survive. 

Adam: You were a slave and the only thing he did was train you. 

Roman: He didn't even get you out. He abandoned you. He is a monster.

[novankenn]

What If...

Pyrrha was also under the sway of Salem Cinder and Pyrrha loved each other (Pompeii)

Scene : Balcony of EverNight Castle

==> @cheeseeater2 What if Jaune had taken that deal?

Jaune sat on the railing of the highest balcony of EverNight Castle. His legs dangling over the edge. his hands braced behind him. Sadness filled his eyes, as he gazed at the ground far below. He had accepted Pyrrha and Cinder's deal, and left with them.

It had been a mistake. The "love" Pyrrha felt soon faded, and he became no more than a member of her entourage, much like Emerald and Mercury. Pyrrha and Cinder had only eyes for each other, and Jaune felt like a stray dog they had wanted to keep.

He wasn't abused or mistreated, at least physically, but being ignored and coerced was just as hurtful as if Pyrrha physically struck him.

"Jaune?" came a voice he instantly recognized. It was Emerald, one of Cinder's pawns, and much like him trapped in a cycle of emotional manipulation.

"Em." Jaune greeted her, using the nickname he had grown accustomed to addressing her with.

"Is everything okay?" She asked as she climbed on the railing next to him, her legs also dangling over the steep fall.

"Just thinking." Jaune replied.

"About?"

"If it was all worth it." Jaune responded. "I thought there was more, that I was important... but..."

"We're... you're not."

"Was it worth it? Accepting such a tainted offer? I'll admit I didn't want to die at that point." Jaune sighed, before continuing, "But in the end what was the point? I'm an after thought."

"You're not an after thought." Emerald commented as she slid her hand across the railing and placed it over Jaune's. "At least to some of us."

"Em?"

"I thought Cinder was the person I needed in my life, much like you and Pyrrha. We're the same, you know..."

"Ignored and taken for granted. Used at their whims and cast aside." Jaune completed her statement.

"It's hard... you know..."

"Seeing someone you care about, who you thought cared about you... with another..."

"Hearing their honeyed words that are empty of sincerity."

"But what else is there?" Jaune asked, his eyes turning from the ground below, and looking into Emerald's ruby coloured ones. "We've sided with them. Turned our backs on anyone who would have truly care for us."

'We're not really alone you know." Emerald held his gaze, getting lost in the warm azure blue of his eyes. "I know there is someone... who is better for me. Who truly would care, who does care."

Jaune gave her a soft smile, removing his hand from under hers and reaching behind her to gentle coax her closer. Emerald didn't resist. Carefully she shifted closer and unbidden leaned her head against his shoulder.

"We've both made terrible mistakes." she whispered, bask in the warmth and comfort Jaune was providing. "Is there anyway..."

"For us to correct them?" Jaune finished her statement, before adding, "Maybe."

The pair stayed as they were, for over ten minutes.

"What if..." Jaune started and stopped.

"Jaune?"

"I care about you Em. I hate seeing how Cinder and Pyrrha treat you." Jaune offered, "Would you..."

"Would I what Jaune?" Emerald asked as she tilted her head to look directly into his eyes. "Would I be with you? Would I stand at your side?"

"Yes."

"I would without hesitation." Emerald then reached up and gently guided his head towards her. Their lips touched. Unlike the aggressive, passion filled displays Pyrrha and Cinder subjected to the pair, this was soft, comforting. They both swallowed nervously as they separated, mournful smiles upon this lips.

"Do we?" Jaune asked, inclining his head towards the ground below. Emerald shook hers disagreeing with his overly drastic idea.

"We need to live, despite them." Emerald spoke. "Show them true strength. True desire, caring and..."

"Companionship... love."

"Would you leave with me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just leave with me. Walk away from all this. Away from them?"

"I would." Jaune replied. "Is that what you want? T o leave it all behind. To start over... just us?"

"I do." Emerald responded, "What about you?"

"I do." Jaune replied, an actual happy smile on his lips for the first time in months. "I do."

Twenty minutes later, they stood at the threshold to EverNight's threshold. Each laden with a pack. Their weapons at their sides. They said nothing as they reached out and clasped the others hand, before stepping forward and vanishing into the tortured Grimm infested landscape. Leaving it all behind for something better... for something genuine... for something hopeful.

/==/

"Jaune!" Pyrrha raged as she ransacked his room, in utter rage. She couldn't believe he was gone. That he had vanished. That he left her, and everything she had offered him.

"Emerald, you traitor!" Cinder bellowed. Like Pyrrha, her partner and lover she was totally consumed with anger at the discovery that the illusionist was gone.

It had been two days since Jaune and Emerald had left quietly and unnoticed by everyone aside from Mercury. He didn't care. What those two had chosen to do had no bearing on him. So he ignored it, and just continued as he always did.

Deep in the wasteland that made up the Grimm lands. Jaune and Emerald continued to walk. Hand in hand towards the coast. Towards hope. Towards a future... together.

[kob131]

Hey so did you see some of the concept art for Jaune? Apparently he may or may not have been originally written as Ozpin's intended host before the concept split off to create Oscar.

Assuming this is true (I think there may have been a stream I missed so I haven't seen the art)-

I am not surprised. Oscar has a lot of elements that made him VERY similar to Jaune between the 'normal guy thrust into adventure' concept, the relationship between them and Ruby being that of a normal person who is trying to live up to an ideal that Ruby embodies and how both...just kind of suck in a fight and contribute through their smarts or other means. To go a bit further-

I don't think it's coincidence that, if the concepts spilt around the production of V3-4, that V4 introduced Oscar and Jaune starting losing relevance in V4. Almost like there was a shift in the writers' room around this, like maybe a certain writer whose noted for liking Oscar and didn't like writing Jaune for outside reasons decide to split the two so he didn't get MORE harassment...

Before anyone gets any bright ideas- Everything beyond noting character similarities is just a conspiracy theory I've had for a while that Oscar was made to supplant some of the writing originally dedicated to Jaune because Miles, Kerry or both didn't want to cause more Jaune problems than what was happening. Remember, even now Jaune is called a self-insert of Miles. Back in V4, people were thinking that asking Miles when he was gonna die was an okay joke. I don't know if anything I said is true or not, do not take it as truth. I bring it because I just woke up and I found it oddly connected.

Anyway, about the concept- I think it could work. Jaune wants to be a hero like his dad and grandpa and Ozpin, as it turns out, IS a famous and legendary hero. But Ozpin has lost the features that made him a noble hero, slowly being worn down to a shadier, more cynical man showing how harsh such a role can be. And both are connected to Ruby and her heroism, with Ozpin seeing it as what he lost and Jaune seeing her as what inspires him.

Jaune can even be seen as a parallel to Salem since Pyrrha's self sacrifice and supportive role in Jaune's life could reflect how Ozma saved Salem and supported her with them both poorly coping afterwards.

Oscar does work somewhat as he's able to communicate the stress and pressure of the situation better than Jaune, a guy who ASKED for this kind of thing, could. He would have been better in an extended V4 where we saw more of his daily life and how he longed for an adventure. But both he and Jaune do work as Ozpin's successors, just in different ways.

Also, RWBY found some partners, there's hope for a continuation!

That I actually did hear about. Pretty glad they're finding work again, especially in possibly finishing RWBY.

Things can still fall through. But there is hope they can finish what Monty started...without the workplace abuse.

[bridgyrose]

So how does spartan Pyrrha feel about medusa Cinder?

Pyrrha watched Cinder carefully as she went through her day trying to put the statues of her victims back together. It was unlike anything she had seen, though, finding out about her being a huntress of Artemis before becoming a monster wasnt exactly what she had expected of her either. Monsters were supposed to be their own breed of creature, created by the old magics that still washed over the lands, not humans punished by the gods. And yet, here she was staring at proof that some monsters were created by the gods out of jealousy. 

“Can you do more than watch me all day?” Cinder asked as she finished piecing together another statue, sealing the cracks with a small incantation she learned years ago. “Not that I mind the staring, but I’m sure you’d prefer doing something that isnt just watching me work.” 

“I can help-” 

“I was the one who turned them to stone, its my job to keep them safe until there’s a way to bring them back. That includes putting them back together when they break.” 

Pyrrha sighed and walked over to the piles of stone that Cinder had made, each piece organized into a separate pile at each base the statues had been sitting on. Then, she walked around the statue that had been fixed, surprised that the pose almost looked like she wanted to embrace Cinder rather than cower like the rest of the statues. “Who was she?” 

Cinder pulled her hand away from the statue and slipped her blindfold over her eyes. “She’s the reason I was expelled from the huntresses to begin with. A mistake that I’d never change no matter how many times I could be offered to. And, she’s the reason I became a gorgon.” 

“I’m not sure I understand. She’s a human, right?” 

“She is.” Cinder sat down and slipped the blindfold off her eyes for a brief moment to stare at the statue with her own eyes. “And like me, she was a huntress. My… rival for a lack of a better term. No matter what weapon she was given, she would always get Artemis’ favor. The best of us, a thorn in my side, always getting in my way. And yet, I couldnt help but fall in love with her.” 

Pyrrha looked over at Cinder and watched how the light seemed to glisten off her amber eyes before Cinder pulled the blindfold over her eyes again. She looked back at the statue and sat down next to Cinder. “What was her name?” 

“Ruby. After a brutal hunt, we spent some time alone, sparring just like all huntresses do. As each match went on, I started to get more and more frustrated with her until she pinned me to the ground. I still remember the way the moonlight reflected off her eyes, the gift that Artemis had bestowed to her, and the way it seemed to bring a… a sense of calm to me.” 

Pyrrha noted the small smile that started to cross Cinder’s lips as a tear ran down her cheek. “And that’s when you were expelled, right?” 

Cinder nodded and wiped the tear away from her cheek. “Huntresses arent supposed to fall in love, we’re supposed to give ourselves completely to Artemis. We spent the moment together, alone in a spring and sleeping under the stars. The next morning, we were both expelled from the hunt and stripped of our protections that Artemis gave us. However, she showed mercy to us and allowed for Ruby to keep the gift that she had been given. After that, we built a home together outside of Athens.” 

“Then what happened?” Pyrrha asked, genuine curiosity leaving her lips. She paused for a moment when she realized how quickly she had asked, clearing her throat and looking away from Cinder. “I-I mean, that explains how you were expelled, but it doesnt explain why you’re a gorgon. It doesnt seem like Artemis cursed you.” 

Cinder nodded and stood up to make her way to the next statue pile and started to piece together another broken statue. “That’s because it wasnt her. What I didnt know was that another goddess had Ruby in her eyes. Salem, the goddess of chaos. I’m still not sure if it was our of jealousy, or if she had other plans for her, but Salem came to me and offered me a choice: I could leave Ruby and live out a peaceful life, or I could stay with Ruby and become a living weapon she’d use against humanity and the gods.” 

Pyrrha watched as Cinder slowly placed a piece of stone and sealed the cracks, listening to her voice break as she spoke. For a moment, all Pyrrha wanted to do was hug Cinder, to try to tell her that everything would be okay, but as another tear ran down Cinder’s cheek, she pulled back as she watched the hair start to turn into snakes. She kept her distance and sighed. “So, you were tricked.” 

“No, not tricked,” Cinder answered. “Punished. At the time, I had wanted to do whatever I could to stay with Ruby, so I accepted Salem’s offer and became her weapon. One that she’d use on her own terms. At first, I thought that meant being called upon by her to fight the heroes that the other gods would throw at her. Instead, being a “living weapon” was meant to be a punishment for daring to try to stay with someone that was off limits. I spent the night with Ruby and then�� all I remember was feeling everything inside of me burn.” 

Pyrrha went quiet and got up to help Cinder, gently taking her hand to help steady her as she tried to place another piece of the statue together. Even though Cinder’s eyes were covered, she kept her own gaze averted from Cinder’s eyes, helping guide her to keep the statues from getting damaged further. 

Cinder placed the stone she held and then wiped the tears from underneath her blindfold. “She held me until my transformation was complete. I felt… cold and empty, but having her arms around me still helped me feel a bit of warmth. Then, I looked up and stared at her eyes and then… well…” she motioned to the statue next to them. 

“She turned to stone.” Pyrrha looked at the statue of Ruby once more, noticing more faded paint on the stone as if Cinder had tried to give her color once more. Silver for her eyes, red on her dress, black for her hair and a pink on her lips. All in an attempt to make the statue seem more like who she used to be. “And the others here?” 

“Accidental victims.” Cinder looked at the pile of stones in front of her. “This one was a warrior sent to kill me, like you. He caught me by surprise and managed to give me a nasty scar on my side. “But then, he made the mistake of looking in my eyes.” 

“You… you didnt want to turn him to stone, did you?” 

Cinder shook her head and steadied herself with a deep breath. “I wanted to be left alone with Ruby until I could find a way to bring her back to normal. Instead, more people came and I became the weapon that Salem wanted me to be. Warriors and heroes have been coming at me for years, a few travelers have stopped only to get frozen in stone as well. This… place was supposed to be a sanctuary for me when I first arrived with Ruby, a place for me to quietly find a cure to all of this. I-I couldnt stay at the home she and I built.” 

Pyrrha sat down and growled at herself under her breath when she realized she couldnt not help Cinder. Sure, she was spartan and Cinder was a gorgon, but her life belonged to Mercury and she couldnt sit around if someone was cursed. “I… I think I know someone that can help. I’ll have to go back to Sparta, but… I know a disciple of Mercury that might be able to cure you.” 

“You do?!” Cinder asked as she took Pyrrha’s hands. “I’ll do anything if it means getting rid of this curse!” 

Pyrrha looked away from Cinder to keep from looking at her eyes, and to hide the small blush that crossed her cheeks. She couldnt help but catch the small scales along Cinder’s cheek, or how warm and soft her hands felt even after working with cold stone for hours. She slowly pulled away, her voice breaking a bit as she spoke. “Y-yes, I’m fairly sure he can. And if he cant, then as a spartan, I’ll give up my weapon.” 

“I’ll make sure you have a warm meal before you leave.” 

“Thank you,” Pyrrha said quietly as she watched Cinder walk off. The blush on her cheeks deepend as she watched her, her heart pounding in her chest as she gripped the shaft of her spear. “Its just nerves about seeing Jaune again, that’s all,” she said to herself. “I help Cinder, and then I go home. That’s all it is.” 

[strykingback]

In terms of canon-divergence what is different in your canon of RWBY with the additions of your OC's?

Okay so massive canon-divergence incoming.

Starting with Volume five.

My take on Lionheart is yes, he is a coward because he used one of the questions of the Relic of Knowledge because as stated in his bio. He was incredibly prideful and bit off more than he could chew, however despite assisting the Scions of Salem he did send the Hunters of Mistral away from Mistral discreetly after overhearing what Tyrian and Hazel plans to do with them.

Adam isnt some psychotic incel. He's lost and misguided and is prepared to do what he can to make humans understand that the Faunus will not kneel to such idiocy any more.

Raven did not kill the former Spring Maiden, but is traumatized by her death when a young Cinder had killed the Spring Maiden which was only but a child which Raven could only see Yang in her eyes therefore she would have to keep her distance from her family making Yang understand why Raven "left" and confirms why she always felt a pair of eyes around her.

Yang actually is herself from Volume 2 to 3. and doesnt treat anyone like an A-hole making puns wherever she can. Just a bit more locked in when it comes to fights or situations. Louvel, Yang, Vernal, and Raven will be fighting Cinder together but Vernal sacrifices herself to save Yang. Which Raven sees her mouth Vernals final words to her being: "Be a good mother to her." as this sends Raven into a fury prompting in herself and Yang getting injured but not enough to take them out of the fight. Louvel unleashes his fury on Cinder which results in him getting a fatal injury but he unlocks his passive semblance which results in an opening being given to Yang and Raven to finish Cinder off as Mother and Daughter.

Salem makes an appearance not by Emeralds semblance going into overdrive and "congratulates" the reunited RWBY and BLCK for gaining one of the Relics..but confirms that the real battle begins her. as Louvel passes out from the pain hitting him all at once as he was in an adrenlaine rush.

Volume 6: No Race to Atlas Arc yet. Buuuut. Louvel, Sun, Yang, Ilia, Lie-Ren, and Blade travel to the Neo-Shinbaori base to repair Louvels damaged katana.

Corona, Blake, Ruby, Weiss, Nora, Kazura, Outsider and Pyrrha travel to Mistrals criminal underground to end a war for supremacy over the criminal underground.

Volume 7- RWBY, SPNL, and BLCKOUT all get separated Yang, Louvel, Ruby, Blade, Qrow, and Ozpin/Oscar along with Maria all find out the truth behind Ozpin with Ozpins consent.

Ozpin confirms that he seeks to finally be free from the cycle of life and death and how he had to see many generations of Hunters who he gave the Special Mission to fall.. except for Summer Rose who came incredibly close.

Sun, Pyrrha, Nora, Lie-Ren, Corona, Kazura, Weiss, Blake, and Hermes are rescued by Cashmere and is taken to the Ruins of Light where they meet the Titan of Benevolence Exaltia. As she explains Ozpins past and how she knows him. WHile at the same time she and Cashmere heals Hermes of his mind. May do a drabble about that.

Maria actually teach Ruby more about her Silver Eyes powers and reveals that using too much of its power is risky.

Ruby and friends are confronted by Colonel Cordovin but the General of Argus explains that due to a massive Grimm being around Argus all travel to Atlas has been cut-off until further notice. Which prompts Ruby and friends to try and help as best as they can and after a few days they are confronted by one of the Seats of Vanity, Orochi.

Who beats them all down and states that he just nees to do is make a sound loud of enough to awaken the Titan udnerneath Argus which he summons Perseus the Titan of the Seas.

this prompts Colonel Cordovin into fighting.

Sorry I may need to make another post for this.

[malice-death]

RWBY Band Au

I was writing another work the last week and made this mess of an idea. (Of all the times that I wish I could draw)

All of my RWBY WIPs are still in the works, and yet here's another for the pile. (I'll have these published before V10 comes out lol)

Summary: Jaune Arc has been depressed ever since the lead singer and his lover Pyrrha Arkos died. Since than him and his band hasn't done any gigs, which results in them splitting up, all three of them going their separate ways.

But when he hears Oscar Pine, a waiter in his favorite underground bar belt some notes on the stage, he starts to find healing in a voice.

Of course, that's all I have so far, but I'm open to anything and all things people want to say to this au.

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

I even wrote down what band names everyone has. Here's the quick list, and who's in the band.

Juniper's Tales: Jaune, Nora, Ren, Oscar, and Pyrrha (Past) (Because of the jackalope, its because of the jackalope)

RWBY: Ruby, Wiess, Yang, and Blake (It really suits them, as a team, a series, a band title)

Funky Jazz: Flynt, Neon, Kobalt, Ivori (I can picture them as a jazz band)

Raging Hellions: Adam, Illia, Corsac, and Fennec (The name is from another au, but it works as a more metal band name)

Three Hot Men & A Monkey: Sun, Neptune, Scarlet, and Sage (I made this name as a joke, but it fits)

Older Bands *Now Disbanded*

Wavering Seasons: Summer, Taiyang, Raven, and Qrow (With each of their personalities, it makes the name fit.)

Clock Work: Ozpin, Glynda, Qrow, and Ironwood (Probably the strangest band on this list)

Zwei's Howlers: Qrow, Taiyang, Ruby, and Yang (This was when the girls were little, and Taiyang didn't want to fully give up on the music scene.)

Soloists *People Who Solo*

Winter Schee (I'm sure she's got some pipes)

Oscar Pine (But only in the bar he worked at, before joining JT)

Salem (Retired, but probably would manipulate Cinder into going into the music scene to get revenge)

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

This is everything I have so far, and whenever my rwby music poll finishes, I would've probably had the one-shot finished.

Unless people want me to write more for this.

So please ask me anything, repost, I just love to hear what people think.

And when I have time, which I probably will, I'll make the post of what main songs I'm going to use for some of the major bands.

Thank you for reading this long ramble..

(Now I must go and write, farewell!!)

[thelastbraincellofthehive]

Ok so... I haven't watched anything RWBY since last finale because I was fucking mourning and still kinda am... But anyways, now that Volume9 Is coming and I feel I little more calm and not wanting to kill absolutely everyone for taking my beautiful daughter AGAIN I decided to rewatch the series 'cuz nostalgia

I just finished Volume 1, here are my thoughts:

Omg the black models for the extras 😂😂😂 I fuckin'forgot about the shadow people!!! I love them!

Also I'm so very proud of how the animation has grown <3 Volume 8 animation is*chef's kiss*

Also, Miles and Kerry have grown up so much as writers!! Like, I adore the dumb jokes and references on these early volumes, but to think where the story heads after!!! OMG it's so awesome!!!

Now going for more specific stuff pardon my rambling and lack of order

Hearing Salem's voice in the intro hits so different after everything we've been through, I love it!

I'm 1000% sure that Ozpin knew from the start that Jaune was lying on his entrance papers, just like he knew who Blake was from the start.

Nora in Players and Pieces is just:

We stan Nora so hard it hurts<3 best girl.

Also that fucking nevermore fight still takes my break away after watching it more than 30 times! Not many things can say that!

Weiss grows so much across the seasons and I'm so proud of her <3 it's so amazing to see her in this volume knowing what she'll become #you'redoingamazingsweetie #that'smygirl

Blake, darling, there was absolutely no reason for you to crouch down behind Yang in Forever Fall, aside from wanting to watch her ass, your bisexuality is showing honey. #Proud

Also speaking of Yang, it's so weird to see her without her robotic arm again????? Can I just said that as much as I love every version of Yang, volume 5+ is her best version in every way

The fuckin' bunkbeds were and still are a hazard lol I love them though.

Roman, my beloved</3 I've missed you so much king, I wish you could be able to reunite with your girl. She also misses you so much.

That said, I'm sorry my boy, but I know if I had the power to bring back any character who has died in the series... It would always be Pyrrha. I understand why, but it doesn't mean she didn't deserved so much better.

Anyways back to the fun stuff (and there's a lot) Ozpin throwing kids off the cliff will never not be iconic lol.

Just like Weiss and Ruby riding the nevermore, my favorite moment of them as a pair in this season

Honestly the initiation arc is my favorite in this season Is just so awesome lol.

I don't understand how Cardin Winchester got into beacon... Like, he's not even a good fighter nor a good student... How???

I still can't believe that The FNDM latched onto Velvet so hard they gave her a full team of badasses and two spin off books. Fucking great it's what she deserves. Now make her and Coco a couple.

It's been so long since I last watched this volume that I didn't remember Penny and Sun were introduced in the same episode lol honestly Iconic. We got the DemiAce trans girl AND the raging bisexual monkey boy in less than five minutes. Trully a win for representation. We stan.

Also the whole 'penny was wearing a backpack but the animation didn't looked like it' thing it's so funny to me, because next season we 'learn' that She's a robot/android and my thoughts are always "why is it a surprise Ruby you saw her back open up and swords coming out of It?!" Lol.

Red like roses pt 2 and I may fall are still my favorite songs from this soundtrack. They're so freaking epic!!!

Speaking of songs, I can't watch the series without remembering that AU/Headcanon thing that since Casey does Weiss' singing voice all the songs can be seeing as things that Weiss wrote in-universe about her partners and yrabels lol like it's so fucking funny to thing about it that way lol. Did she saw team CFVY being badass and was like 'damn these 4 deserve a fuckin' hard rock anthem to go into battle!'? Did she saw Yang and Blake being useless at confesing their feelings and thought 'I'm gonna write them a song that's so gay they're gonna figure their shit out'? It's just so funny to me lol

Honestly, I really like Cinder as an antagonist... Like really, really like her lol I get why people is tired of her, but I enjoy her moments so much??? Cant wait for more Cinder un Vol2

Also, Ruby my girl, I'm so sorry for everything that's gonna happen </3 I wish I could protect you from the world but I also love seeing you suffer, I'm terrible

So yeah those are my thoughts, fuck how I've missed RWBY, I gotta continue my rewatch now 😋

[blackhakumen]

Mini Fanfic #1078: Emerald and Me (RWBY)

9:15 a.m. at JNPRO's Residence's Kitchen......

'Sizzling'

Emerald: (Looks Down at the Food Oscar's Cooking on the Frying Pan as her Chin Rests on top of his Head) So that's a grill cheese sandwich your cooking, huh?

Oscar: Yep. While most people, Jaune, would usually make them in a microwave, I grill mines the old, proper way.

Emerald: (Raises an Eyebrow) On a frying pan?

Oscar: This is how my aunt used to make it for me growing up, sue me. But yeah, this is a definite way of make it. (Looks Up at Emerald) You never had one of these before?

Emerald: (Shrugs) Eh. Not really. I've been out in the streets for so long that I don't I could even remember the last time I had a decent meal. And don't even get me started on the Grimm meat Tyrion used to make for us. (Shivers in Disgust)

Oscar: (Eyes Widened at Emerald) They fed you dead Grimm meat?

Emerald: The dead ones we could find or the ones Salem would vaporize whenever she gets into one of her hissy fits. (Rolls her Eyes) Whiiiiich happens i lot more often than you think. ('Sigh') And I thought Cinder has anger issues. At least she didn't try traumatizing us every time we fail a mission.....

Oscar: (Frowns a Bit) Emerald......

Emerald: (Starts Pouting at Oscar) Hey. Don't even think about giving me that look.

Oscar: (Raised an Eyebrow in Confusion) What look?

Emerald: The one you make every time you start worrying about me. It's extremely telling.

Oscar: Well, I mean...can you blame me for being this way? You lived nearly your whole life to look out for yourself with no home and end up dealing with Cinder and Salem's crap afterwards.

Emerald: Yeah, but I STILL made the choice to join them at the last second, especially when I was at my lowest. I was never one of my proudest moments looking back on it and everything else that came after it, but it was all in the past and I'm already willing to do better and move on with my life. (Places her Hands on Both of Oscar's Cheeks) And I want you to stop worrying about me and all that crap I'm going through no matter much i appericate it. And also, to quit losing focus on cooking our breakfast.

JEmerald points Oscar towards the nearly burnt sandwich in front of both of them as he let's out a-

Oscar: AH-

Few Seconds Later at the Living Room.........

Emerald: (Eating One of the Grill Cheese Sandwiches Oscar Made For While Sitting Beside Him on the Sofa Together) ('Mm') Gotta say, Oz...('Mm') This almost burnt Grill Cheese of yours ain't half bad.

Oscar: ('Sigh') Well, I'm glad you like it at least. The taste pale in comparison to how I usually make it.....

Emerald: Oh relax, Chef Pines. (Finishes her Sandwich With One Bite and Gulp)'Least you didn't accidentally set the shove on fire.

Pyrrha: (Pop her Head Out From the Bathroom With a Terrified Look on her Face) Our shove's on fire!?

Oscar: (Quickly Turns to Pyrrha) No, Pyrrha, our shove is fine. I just nearly burnt the grill cheese sandwiches I made for me and Emerald is all.

Pyrrha: Oh my.....You didn't get yourself hurt, did you?

Oscar: Don't worry. Nothing hurt me. Well, besides my pride......

Emerald: Ha.

Oscar: But seriously, I'm fine. Did you want me to make you guys anything?

Pyrrha: No sweetie. The others are still a asleep and I'm more interested in making myself a cup of coffee if anything. I'll be out in a few (Smiles Brightly at her Precious Farm Boi) I love youuuu!~

Oscar: (Chuckles Lighty) I love you too, Pyrrha~

Pyrrha: And Emerald.....Stay out of trouble.

Emerald: (Sighs While Rolling her Eyes) Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, mom.

The room suddenly silent (ignoring the sound of Nora's snoring in the bedroom) as Pyrrha stares at Emerald for a brief second before giving her a pierced glare.

Pyrrha: Don't.....EVER call me that again.

Emerald: (Immediately Deflated into a Bit of Fear in her Eyes) R-Right. (Starts Frowning) Sorry.....

Pyrrha let's out a sigh before going back inside the bathroom and close the door.

Emerald: (Let's Out a Veru Heavy Sigh) Well!.....That was the most awkward couple of minutes I've ever been apart of....

Oscar: (Turns to Emerald) She's still giving you the cold shoulder, huh?

Emerald: Seems like it. But if I have someone who helped put Beccon down to shambles and killed you off once, sitting in the sofa of your own home, I'd.... probably do the same.....

Oscar: Yeah......

Emerald: (Went Back to Pouting at Oscar) Hey! What did I say about giving me that look?

Oscar: (Glares Back ar Emerald Woth his Habds Out Towards Her) What look?

Emerald: We already had this discussion a few minutes ago, stop acting oblivious here, Oscar Everlyn Pine!

Oscar: Okay, WHO gave you permission to.use my full name in vain?

Emerald: Your girlfriend, that's who! She may hate my guts, but she can be pretty resourceful when it comes to bragging about you in every details

Oscar: (Sighs While Pinching his Nose) Damnit, Ruby-Alright, fine. You got me. I was starting to worried about you. But ONLY a little bit.

Emerald: (Raises an Eyebrow) Really.

Oscar: Yes, really.

Emerald: You're positive? Cause word has that you have a lousy track record of telling legitimate lies.

Oscar (Eyes Widened in Confusion) Legitimate- Who in the hell told you that crap!?

Emerald: Guess.

Oscar: (Immediately Gives Emerald the Deadpinned Look) It was Ruby again, wasn't it?

Emerald: Close. It was her AND Ozpin who told me. (Smirks Playfully) But you still won ourselves a cookie~ Maybe a pack or two of them~ (Rapidly Blinking her Eyes in an Innocent Fashion)

Oscar: ('Sighs in Defeat') I'll get us three when we stop by the store at one point today.....

Emerald: Neat. (Let's Out a Sigh of her Own Before Frowning at Oscar) Listen, I really appericate your concern and everything else you've done for me up to this point. But like I said back in the kitchen, I'm doing everything I can to move on from the past and better myself and I can't fully do that with you getting worried about every single move I make, now can I?

Oscar: ('Sigh') No, you couldn't....Sorry. I'll try and stay out of your way for now on. Promise.

Emerald stares at Oscar for a few more seconds before letting out another sigh.

Emerald: Alright. Come here. (Scoots Herself Over to Oscarand Pulls Him into a Hug) You know I love you to pieces, right?

Oscar: (Chuckles Lightly) What's this? The cold, blunt Emerald Sustrai showing affection? So unheard-of!

Emerald: (Giggles Softly While Playfully Giving Oscar a Noogie) Can it, twerp, I'm being serious here!~ You were the first person to ever gave me a chance to redeem myself, made me see that's there's more to life than following Cinder around 'til I end up dead or whatever. (Blushes a Little) And I honestly can't find a way to thank you more than that, you know?

Oscar: (Heart Begins to Melt in Genuine Happiness) There's really no need for you to thank me, Emerald. I'm just glad we had the chance to get to know each other a lot better than we did ad enemies. You're cool in an obnoxious way.

Emerald: (Puts on a Playful Smirk) And you're still nothing but a goody two shoes Farm Boi. Still love ya though. (Gives Oscar a Peck on the Cheek)

?????: Awwwwwww~

The duo turns to see Pyrrha was staring at them this entire time.

Pyrrha: (Eyes Widened Once She Realizes She Has Been Discovered) Oh! (Quickly Bows at the Duo) S-Sorry! It wasn't my intention to spy on you two for that long.

Oscar: (Raises an Eyebrow at Pyrrha) You sure about that?

Pyrrha: (Eyes Widened in Complete Shock) What do mean am I sure!? You don't believe me!?

Oscar: I do. Not completely, but.....

Pyrrha: (Closes her Eyes in Protest) You're cruel, you know that!? ('Sigh') Anyhow......(Turns to the Girl With Green Hair With a Frown on her Face) Emerald?

Emerald: Yeah?

Pyrrha: I....want to apologize for the way I acted towards you earlier. (Looks Away With Her Hand on her Arm) You're a guest in our home and should be respected as one.

Emerald: (Smiles Sheepishly While Shaking her Habds in Front of Her) I-It's fine, Pyrrha! Really ! It was my fault for not keeping my mouth shut. But uhh....(Starts Rubbing The Back of Her Head Back and Forth Shyly) Since we're....on the topic of apologies.....Sorry for....everything that happened in Beccon. Especially....you know.....

Pyrrha: (Takes a Very Deep Breath Before Speaking) It's.....going to take a very...very long time for me to accept your apology fully.....

Emerald: (SMile Falters into Expected Frown as She Looks Down on the Floor) Oh.....

Pyrrha: However.

Emerald: (Looks Back Up at Pyrrha) Hm?

Pyrrha: If Oscar says that you're worth trusting....(Smiles Sincerely) Then who am I to not give you a fair chance?

Emerald: (Stares at Pyrrha for a Few Seconds Before Slowly Smiling Back at Her) Right. I won't let you down.

@keyenuta

@albion-93

@ma-lemons

@miki-13

@cyber-wildcat

@caleb13frede

[help-i-need-a-cool-username]

So some stuff has come up and i dont think i'll personally be able to finish RWBY March. But ive been building a headcanon list for a while, so i guess now's the perfect time to share it!

General (main cast)

Nora refers to JR/JRO as "the boys" (canon?) but to RWBY as "RWBY" (canon?)

Pyrrha was insecure about her height (6'). The only one who knew was Nora. Nora's not insecure about her height (5'1") she's just mad at it

Weiss is also mad at her height. And Yang used to be insecure about hers in middle school

Everyone has carried Nora at least once. Whether because they wanted to or she forced them or they had to drag her out of something

Salem is colorblind (either by birth or by Grimm Pond dive)

Blake once licked her whole hand and then used that hand to push Ruby's hair back. No one will let her live that down

Sun likes to play with other peoples hair and clothes and gets really happy when they do it back (grooming is a important social aspect for primates). This behavior makes people think he's dating either Blake (who gets it) or Neptune (who's used to it and just lets him do what he wants)

At Beacon Blake wouldnt let anyone touch her hair out of fear they would move her ribbon or they would notice her cat ears. She actually really likes brushing or braiding her own or other people's hair

Pyrrha has a scar on her neck. Thats why she's always covering it. She always admired Weiss for walking around with hers on full display

Blake hung out with Sun and Neptune a lot in V2/V3. Thats why she knew Neptune was afraid of water

Emerald has never kissed anyone

Mercury went to school

Mercury was always a quiet kid. When he was talkative it was because he was having fun or being mean

Emerald dresses the (almost) exact way that Yang does but if anyone drew the same first conclusions about her that she did about Yang she would be very upset

Salem stopped going by "Princess Salem" after her rescue, only bringing it up if it would help a situation her and Ozma were in. She started somewhat going by it again when she was recruiting her army. She didnt go by "princess" again but she did go by "queen" and "goddess" after her false god stint

Faunus in General

Bc they need more animal characteristics outside 1 physical trait and goodish night vision

Faunus senses are a lot stronger than humans (other than sight*, which is equal to or less) *its canon they have night vision, so this is in regards to normal daytime 20/20 sight

Most faunus' can smell other faunus, down to the species-type (is there a word for that?)

Theres an old wives tale that the more human DNA you have, the weaker the strength of your senses are

Faunus who marry other faunus tend to end up with a spouse of the same or similar species-type. (Theres no socialital push its just statistics. Like how ppl tend to marry other ppl from the same backgrounds or class as them)

Depending on the species-type, some faunus have internal characteristics that allow them to: growl/howl (vocalcords/voicebox), have a higher bite force (jaw muscles), etc

There are stereotypes surrounding species-types. Cat-types like fish, primate-types will go through your stuff, rodent-types are short, that faunus who resemble solitary animals avoid social situations, etc

There are ridiculous rumors that faunus have a mating season/go into heat and that they lay eggs instead of giving birth

Perfumes and other scented things created and used by faunus are made differently, since their sense of smell is so strong. Walking into a human mall can be very disorienting because of the strength of human perfumes/candles

Animals were named after the types of faunus, not the faunus after the animal

STRQ

The partners were Summer x Taiyang and Raven x Qrow

Raven is also a alcoholic

Raven and Qrow started drinking at a young age and drank fairly often at Beacon (Tai wasnt complaining then but he complains now)

Both of them became functioning alcoholics well before anything truly bad happened (ex. Summer's death or Raven's exile)

Everyone has tattoos

STRQ has one matching tattoo, they were all suppose to get partner tattoos but instead only Summer and Tai got them while Raven and Qrow got completely different tattoos (they're already twins and will already be tied together for the rest of their lives by Raven's semblance. Plus they'd never agree on one)

Raven has a portal to Ruby

Tai married Qrow first while they were in the Remnant version of Las Vegas for a mission. They were drunk and thought it would be a hilarious thing to lord over Raven. And it was ("i shouldve stayed married to Qrow", "hey, Tai put a ring on my finger before he ever put one on yours!", "you see, my sister married my ex-husband, which means she was the second choice", "well, for your information, i have married every member of my team")

[itsclydebitches]

Vol 9 got a confirmed 2023 release date. Now I get covid messed with production all across all media for a couple years, but 3 years for the next volume? Either they're doing something really ambitious or something went wrong somewhere. I have to assume all the writing is done by this point or at least a huge bulk of the pre production. Why do you think it's being pushed back so far, after waiting as long as it's been already?

Hi, anon!

First, I'm using your submission to give a general shout-out to anyone reading this that I'll tackle all the other asks tomorrow, time permitting. I haven't been able to watch the trailer yet because I don't have a FIRST account anymore (and frankly I don't want one...) so unless RWBY vids start popping up online with decent speed/quality, I'll probably be behind on the latest info from here on out. But I do want to tackle that summary paragraph when my brain is firing on more cylinders.

But yeah... 2023. Given how messed up the schedule has become I have no idea if RT still plans to air in the Fall (have we heard a month yet?) but if they do we're potentially looking at closer to another year and a half of hiatus. I'd hope that it would be early 2023 if we're already getting a trailer and I too would assume that the writing at least is done... but honestly, who knows. Again, not delving deep into this just yet, but that summary paragraph is shockingly generic to me: one sentence about how things went wrong last time and they've landed somewhere new (we knew that). Second sentence saying they'll explore this world (duh) and that "it might not be quite as unknown as they first assumed" (afterlife with Pyrrha, Penny, etc.?). Third and final sentence about how they'll overcome "challenges" (duhx2), grapple with their identities, and struggle with whether they can overcome Salem... something that's been going on since Volume 5. Like the Ruby PoV trailer, 99% of this is old information. Really, only "not quite as unknown as they first assumed" hints at anything concrete that's not already an established part of the story. I'm not saying RT hasn't finished writing (that would be absurd at this point, right?), I'm just saying that if they hadn't this would be the kind of super vague summary I'd expect to get when required to provide one.

Anyway, at this point I have to air on the assumption that something has gone wrong, or multiple small somethings. I mean, with the permanent disclaimer that none of us have any concrete, reliable information, most of what does come out about RT isn't reassuring. For years now this hasn't felt like a thriving company (securing an anime due to the popularity of their IP aside), it feels like a company slowly sinking under... a lot of different things, frankly. I could be 100% wrong, of course. Maybe they're just taking another year to ensure that no one involved is forced into bad working conditions (that would be great!) But after years of hearing about the exact opposite kind of treatment, the lack of funds for certain aspects of RTX, fans upset at the shoddy communication lately, the fact that they just laid off about 50 staff members... none of that screams, "They're in a super good place and are putting the premiere off solely to polish it and do right by their workers."

[rachetmath]

Lancaster vs Rosegarden

Oscar: Jaune!

Jaune: Oh hi Oscar.

Oscar: You think you better than me?!

Jaune: Wait what?

Oscar: You think just because you're tall, muscler, an awsome semblance, and cool armor that'll make Ruby yours. Well too bad buddy, she's mine.

Jaune: I'm sorry, my mind is wondering where are you going with this.

Oscar: Ruby is mine. She will be mind.

Jaune: Okay. But what does this have to with me.

Oscar: I'm not an idiot Jaune. I see everything.

Jaune: What are you-?

Oscar: The train.

Ruby’s scroll.

Argus

Atlas.

I know what you're thinking and trust me she will soon know that chocolate is better than vanilla.

Jaune: Look Oscar-

Oscar: I'm the goat here. I've gone through shit. I do more for this group than anyone.

Jaune: Okay. Noted. Now Oscar just hear me-

Oscar: I'm better than you in every way.

Jaune: Okay but-

Oscar: I'm-

Jaune pimps’ slaps Oscar across his face. The hand was so strong it almost threw Oscar off. However, once Oscar recovered a little, Jaune slaps him again, knocking the drool off him.

Oscar: Ow!

Jaune: You good? A-are you done? Can I finish?

Oscar: Yeah.

Jaune: Thank you. Now let me tell you something um Pyrrha is dead.

Oscar: Okay, so what? What does she... oh.

Jaune: Yeah, she was reckless, she didn't think and she burdens everything on herself. Does Ruby not do that herself?

Oscar: Um..

Jaune: Okay then shut up. If you like Ruby that much then tell her. This has nothing to do with me. We are not even like that. We're just friends.

Oscar: *feels bad*

Jaune: The only girl I seem to have a relationship with is Yang. And it's not even a romantic one, its playful and sisterly. I mean have you seen her with Blake.

Oscar: True. Wait what about Nora?

Jaune: ... ... ...

Oscar: ... ... ...

Jaune: Teammate. A bit of a sister. Nothing less. Nothing more.

Oscar: Wow. That's low.

Jaune: Now, you are better than me but guess what that ain't much. Like what have you done? What sacrifices have you made? What are your reasons?

Oscar: Um I told James the truth about Salem. I saved everyone at Heaven. I helped in the battle with Cordovan. I saved everyone from Salem.

Jaune: Okay. Ironwood shot you. Cordovan was insane and did not deserve to live or have a job after her recklessness. Plus, Ruby stopped her. You were on a plane. And Ozpin helped more than you in Heaven. And if Hazel didn't buy you any time you would have died. In fact, Hazel is the reason you’re alive.

Me: And the reason your journey started.

Oscar: Well I persuaded him to join the good side.

Jaune: Really, how so?

Oscar: By telling him how to use the lamp. Then he freed me and made me do it myself.

Jaune: So, Hazel just let you go because he didn't believe you?

Oscar: Yep.

Jaune: So, if Hazel called Jinn's name and she appeared, what would have happened then? Like would Hazel have freed you then? Or would he had killed you and just let that be the end?

Oscar: ...

Jaune: So Hazel just showed you pity or you guilt tripped him into helping.

Oscar: I helped with James.

Jaune: Who we jumped.

Oscar: The evacuation.

Jaune: The worse plan we ever made.

Oscar: Oh man.

Jaune: Now, I need to say this, STOP being random. Like first you suck for some reason then you start being cool. Like what the hell?! Oscar, I don't know why I should be wasting my time trying to help you, let alone worry about you if you're somehow going to prove how irrelevant that is. Like I could've been helping Mantle instead of helping you. I could've been trying to talk to James instead of helping you. But no, you're my friend so of course I'll help you.

Oscar: But I'm your partner.

Jaune: No. No you are not. I'm the healer. I'm everybody’s partner.

Me: Basically the brother or the father of the group. No, wait a minute, maybe the mother? Still.

Jaune: Now, for your reason. Why are you here? What is your personal goal?

Oscar: To finish this. This fight with Salem needs to stop. I need to stop the cycle of reincarnation.

Me: Bra, that has nothing to do with you reincarnating. Ozma's mission. Remember?

Oscar: Oh.

Jaune: Basically, until the gods show up and we pass, you have no choices here so... you're here because Ozpin and I fucked up. Mostly me.

Oscar: Oh my brothers.

Jaune: Yeah. Now, listen. Ruby has been going through it. Ask her out. Trust me, you'll be making her day. Believe me. Please, enjoy what little life you might have left because in all honesty you barely have one. Considering your just a mini version of everything I was supposed to be.

Oscar: I'm sorry what?

Jaune: Later. *leaves*

Oscar: Um RatchetMath.

Me: What?

Oscar: Do you hate me?

Me: Yes and no.

Oscar: Why?!

Me: Oscar, I’m not going to lie but in all honesty you should not exist.

Oscar: …

Me: Like I’m not going to cap. You’re just Jaune but with everything else.

Oscar: How?

Me: How? Bra, let me tell you something, have you ever notice how you and Jaune are similar? Like coming into a field with no experience whatsoever. You were getting bullied by others. You were in need a pip talk.

Oscar: But I’m black.

Me: Bra, I’m light skin and I don’t even care for you. I’m fine with black representation but I prefer Ilia over you.

Oscar: What why?

Me: Bra Ilia is black. From a poor neighborhood. Her parents worked in low paying jobs. Her parents are dead. She literally went and lived in Atlas, so she has more awareness of what’s going on there. Plus, team RWBY has one faunus and team JNPR doesn’t. Especially if the said faunus is rich and has some nobility.

Oscar: Shit.

Me: And to be honest Jaune looked like Ozpin. He even looked like Ozma. Other than that if Jaune was Ozpin reincarnation then everything would be some levels the same. Hazel hates Ozpin so will Jaune because what Ozpin has done so far. He sees Ozpin’s life and he would have been even more furious cause none the events needed to happen if Ozpin- no Ozma wasn’t trying to get laid like many so-called heroes. He gets out-casted like he was back at Beacon except Pyrrha’s gone. See where I’m going with this?

Oscar: Yeah.

Me: So, in all honesty Oscar you are just black Jaune Arc. You are just a mere shadow of Jaune’s character. Hint to why I like you. And you know what it’s our fault because we didn’t want Jaune to overshadow Ruby. Even though the sad truth is everyone overshadows Ruby. Plus, our writers refuse to give him a purpose or a character.  

[kittyprincessofcats]

RWBY Volume 8, Episode 13 (Worthy)

Well, wow. That sure was an episode that happened.

Thoughts under the cut.

Anyone who leaves spoilers for episode 14 on this will get blocked.

- First of all, I want to now talk about the spoiler I saw for this episode last week, to put the anger from my last post into context: After I had just finished watching episodes 8-12 and started writing my post about them, I went into one of the RWBY tags bc I’m dumb and saw a post that said (I don’t remember the exact words, but more or less): “I’m so glad Yang is finally dead, so now her fans can shut up about her and everyone can ship Blacksun instead.”

… Yeah. Imagine seeing that when you haven’t seen the actual episode and have no idea what really happened. I honestly completely panicked for a few minutes, before remembering I don’t actually know anything and this might just be a “Weiss gets impaled in Volume 5, but one episode later it turns out she’ll be fine” situation. So then I had to look up what actually happened to Yang, because otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. So, to the person who made that post: Fuck you. Not only did you freak people out for no reason (because come on, there’s no way falling into the void actually kills you – and even if it does, we at least definitely don’t know that for sure after episode 13), but even if Yang had actually died, it’s super shitty that your first reaction to a beloved queer character’s death would be “yay, now people can ship my m/f ship instead”. Like, I don’t care if you personally dislike Yang/ dislike Bumbleby/ prefer Blacksun – show a little bit of decency.

Phew. Sorry, I had to get that off my chest because it really made me angry. Now let’s get into the actual episode:

- “Worthy” as a title pretty much already made me predict that Cinder would succeed in her plan, since “you have to be worthy” was what Watts told her in his speech. She’s gotten the message and is now back to efficient plans – and while I love to see it, it also very much scares me when it comes to our heroes’ survival chances. The last time Cinder was doing well, we lost Pyrrha, so… help.

- And gosh, this whole episode was so intense! I feel like it mostly set up a bunch of very intense situations that are going to escalate in the last episode that I’m very much not ready for.

- I still think the whole central location between the worlds is really beautiful, if dangerous. (They should have specified to Ambrosius that they want handrails or something.)

- Nora using her hammer like a witch’s broom was amazing.

- I also loved the scene with Jaune and the people at the train station; that was really funny.

- The middle of the desert might not have been the best place for the exit. Didn’t the group consider that there might be a sandstorm or something else unpredictable out there? Couldn’t they have picked a better exit point?

- Cinder causing an explosion in the middle of the evacuation that throws multiple people into the void was bad and all – but it was still one hell of an entrance!

- I love that now that Cinder realized that she has to rely on teamwork, she’s suddenly being so nice to everyone. Apologizing to Neo, complimenting Watts on “tearing the kingdom apart with nothing but his intellect”, that soft “You deserve this, Arthur”, complimenting Team RWBY on their plan, thanking them for teaching her “one last lesson”. Yeah, maybe she’s just talking to Neo and Watts like this because she needs their help, and to Team RWBY because she’s confident she’ll win – but it’s still amazing to see the shift in her attitude and how she’s clearly changed her tactic.

- It’s insane to me that some people correctly predicted that Cinder would ask Jinn the last question based JUST on the fact that there’s a part in the opening where everyone else freezes in time while she walks past them. Holy hell! I love trying to guess stuff based on the intro, but I would have never thought that far.

- Cinder’s question to Jinn seems like a waste considering it was Jinn’s last question, but maybe it just seems that way to us as viewers because Jinn didn’t reveal anything we didn’t already know. Was it the right thing for Cinder to do? I don’t know, to be honest. Yes, it did give her the chance to ruin the heroes’ plans, but I have a feeling Salem won’t be happy about the question being gone. Pretty sure Salem was going to ask Jinn how to get the Beacon relic, and now she can’t do that. (Cinder ruining Salem’s plans for the beacon relic? Let that be foreshadowing, please.) I mean, maybe it’s worth it from Salem’s POV if it gets them the staff and then she’ll have 2 of the 4 relics – but they could have still gotten the staff later, while I don’t know if Salem has any plan B for the beacon relic. And I’m a little worried about Cinder now. I always thought that Salem wouldn’t kill Cinder no matter what, because she still needs the Fall Maiden for the beacon relic – but if she now has to wait another 100 years for the beacon relic anyway, I’m not sure if she’ll have a reason to keep Cinder alive. (And I’m still worried about that “Some lives will end much too soon” line playing over that scene of Cinder clutching her Grimm arm in the opening.) I also wonder if Cinder even knew that this was Jinn’s last question. Did Jinn even tell her that? Also, when will the 100 years even be up? Do the questions just reset every 100 years regardless of when they were used? So maybe we’re already at year 80 or something and will only have to wait 20 years?

- The cut from everyone at the central command place screaming to them being dead was kinda funny in a “very dark humour” way.

- When Harriet first jumped onto that ship with the bomb, I, like an idiot, thought that she was finally being sensible and trying to get the bomb as far away from Atlas and Mantle as possible, not that she was trying to still drop it on Mantle. She and Ironwood might as well be working for Salem’s team at this point, because they’re doing everything to help the villains’ plan. And the villains are even counting on it! Watts freed Ironwood from his cell and is piloting Harriet’s ship. Those two are just straight up helping Salem’s team in their attempts to… what was it? Save Atlas?

- Ironwood killing Jacques was awful and proves once again that Ironwood has zero morals left. And I didn’t like Jacques, but that was the kind of death that absolutely no one deserves. He had no way to escape or fight back, he was defenseless, locked up in a prison cell with nowhere to run – that’s not just a murder, that’s an execution without a trial. And Jacques wasn’t even a threat, he wasn’t in the way of any of Ironwood’s plans. Ironwood killed him literally just because he could. And no one who thinks they’re the good guy (and Ironwood still thinks he’s the good guy) should go around just killing people who aren’t even a threat.

- And then we have Yang falling into the void. Honestly, as heartbreaking as Blake’s sobs and anger are, I kind of love this from a “supreme angst, let’s see my faves suffer” perspective. That said, Yang better actually be fine or else.

- Actually, my prediction is that the rest of team RWBY will jump into the void to save Yang in the last episode. Because they’re all falling in the opening, and because “Sometimes it’s worth it all to risk the fall and fight for every life”. That’s pretty much the only prediction I feel somewhat confident about, for the rest I have no idea.

- I wonder if it would have been better if Penny had just gone through the doorway and gotten the staff to Vacuo. I get why she didn’t, because Yang just fell and her other friends were in danger… but at the same time, she was supposed to protect the population and the staff (and she has the maiden powers that I’m sure Cinder still wants). If she had just gotten out of there, at least the group in Vacuo would have had some help against the sandstorm and the Grimm. But then again, it would have also severely weakened Term RWBY’s chances against Cinder and Neo… it’s a tough call, really.

- “Why didn’t you just learn your lesson?” “Oh, Penny… I did.” Okay, but that’s the thing: She really did! Just not the lesson Penny wanted her to learn. And notice how Cinder called Penny by her first name again? She didn’t use to do that. I still think somewhere down the line Penny has earned her respect.

- I wonder if Penny’s technically weaker now because she’s human (?? is she??). She’s definitely not used to fighting without her robotic parts (as you can see when she tries to reach for her swords and realizes they’re not there anymore). I summoning those swords like she then did her semblance or another maiden power?

- Blake now has to choose between helping Ruby and helping Penny and Weiss – gosh, the suspense…

- I’m glad Vine at least finally tried to stop Harriet now! (Better late than never.) But I really wouldn’t blame Qrow and Robyn for crashing into their ship. It’s not like they had any way of knowing that Vine was trying to talk sense into Harriet. Also, Qrow crashing through Harriet’s windscreen was amazing.

- Winter and Ironwood are going to fight to the death and I’m so scared of it. (I just need Winter to survive, please…)

- When Weiss described the doorway as a “one-way ticket to Vacuo” last episode, I briefly wondered if that meant they wouldn’t be let back through, but then I brushed it aside and didn’t think about it too much anymore. Oh, damn. You really do have to be very specific with Ambrosius.

- I’m not even sure which location is the best to be in right now because they all seem very unsafe: Atlas and Mantle are unsafe because Atlas is falling, because Mantle might still get blown up by Harriet, and because Salem might still come back any time. The place between worlds is unsafe because of the void and because there’s a big fight happening right there. And Vacuo is unsafe because of the Grimm and the sandstorm. So really, they’re all awful for the civilians right now.

- And now I’m thinking the volume might actually end with the protagonists split into three groups as well: Team RWBY in the void (that they’ll spend Volume 9 finding their way back from), one half of the other characters in Vacuo (Oscar, Ren, Emerald, maybe more?), and the other half still in Atlas/Mantle (Qrow, Robyn, Marrow, Winter, maybe more).

- I’m super nervous about the last episode. I haven’t seen any spoilers at all so far, and I plan to keep it that way. I’ll probably completely ignore anything RWBY-related until next week because the anxiety would kill me otherwise. I’m really worried we’ll get a character death or even several. And ironically, my first prediction on who might die this Volume (Penny, Nora, Winter, Cinder) hasn’t changed all that much. I’m worried about Penny because she has the Maiden Powers and the staff, so Cinder will come after her (but I really think it would be an awful writing choice to kill her off after we just went through so much to save her). I’m very worried about Winter because she’s engaged in a duel to the death with a man who has a big canon that he just blew someone up with. I’m worried for Cinder because of the opening and because Salem might be pissed at her for using the last question. I’m worried for everyone who’s still on Atlas and might get blown up by the bomb (Qrow, Robyn, Marrow, Winter again). And I’m very worried for the characters who are in the in-between realm. Not so much Team RWBY, but I’m worried about Nora, Jaune, and Penny. So yeah, I’m pretty much worried about everyone and very much not ready. Now let me ignore RWBY’s existence for a week – or only reblog posts I already have saved as drafts – because it’s the only way I’ll know peace.

[howlingday]

Tyrian: And here, my baby sister, are the bastards who cut off my tail!

Thalia: Would you stop crying about it? You already have new one. Not even worth my time kill any of them.

Ashe: Sorry to interrupt.

Cinder: WHAT THE-?!

Thalia: Ooh~! Who's this one?

Tyrian: Hm, not sure. But you don't need to worry; only the Maiden should be a prob-

Ashe: (Activates Fall Maiden powers)

Tyrian: Oh, well, would you look at that- (Sliced up)

Nora: DID SHE JUST-?!

Ashe: Now to finish this! (Swings sword in a pattern)

Blake: She's unleashing her Maiden power!

Ashe: (Still swinging)

Blake: She's going to do it!

Ashe: (Still swinging)

Blake: A-Any second now...

Ashe: (Swinging)

Blake: Uh...

Cinder: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! FINISH HER ALREADY!

Ashe: Uh, y-yeah! I'm doing it! It just takes a second!

Pyrrha: You need to hurry, though! Tyrian Callows could get back up at any moment!

Tyrian: (Partially bisected) No, no, please. I don't think you need to worry about that.

Tyrian: Also, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Ashe: H-Hold! I'm about to- (Swings down) THERE! ...Wait, I missed a step! (Swinging again)

Tyrian: SISTER! HELP ME!

Thalia: Nah, I'm good. Besides, I kinda want to see where this goes.

Cinder: Ugh! If you won't do it, then I will-

Jaune: HEY! She just single-handedly took down Salem's top fighter! The least you can do is be patient!

Ashe: Thanks, Dad!

Ruby: Wait, did she just call you-

Jaune: I'm okay with it.

Ashe: (Swinging)

Nora: So, uh, what kinda Maiden power is this?

Ashe: (Swinging) My master taught it to me!

Nora: But what does it do? Does it make your attack stronger?

Ashe: (Swinging) No, not really!

Nora: Then why are you doing this?!

Ashe: (Swinging) I don't know!

Nora: Wow, your master sounds like a complete dumbass!

Ashe: ALRIGHT! HERE WE GO! PREPARE TO DIE, TYRIAN CALLOWS! (Swings down)

Tyrian: Oh, thank Sal- AAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Ren: She... She did it! I can't sense Tyrian at all!

Thalia: Well, that was fun. I guess I now I get a taste, cutie~!

Ashe: Oh, yeah? Well, how 'bout you get a taste-

Blake: Oh no, she's going to use the same technique-

Nora: NO, NO, NO! DON'T-!

Ashe: (Starts swinging again) OF THIS! (Collective groan all around)

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

New Salem: I can't believe how easy it was to consume all the Grimm! Honestly expected a challenge. Where are those Huntresses-?

Ashe: (Swinging her sword)

New Salem: Oh, they're still doing this? Hm... Can I do that? It looks like fun.

HEE HEE HOO HOO HA HA! THIS IS SO FUCKIN' AWESOME!

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Motion Sickness 40

pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq

Damn Jaune.

I thought.

And damn myself for getting comfortable.

It was a sad thought. One of valedictions rather than of true cursing.

But I started to like him…

It was a thought of denial, one born of protest.

I was saying goodbye to Ren and Nora. We cremated them and had a short ceremony. Long funerals were mostly frowned upon across Remnant for the negativity such things tended to gather.

It hurt, more than saying goodbye to my father ever had. These were my family. These were my friends and I'd never hear their voices again. Ren and Nora had no family for us to send messages too, though we would have. They had no ancestral homes to be buried at. They were orphans. All they had were Jaune and Pyrrha and they were gone now too.

I missed Nora's bubbly personality and Ren's stoicism. I missed sitting with them for meals. I missed watching them dance around the others' feelings. So obvious to the rest of us, they never had time to explore one another.

"Our time is fleeting," Ozpin officiated. "Time always seems short. Even to me." He gave an empty laugh. None of us echoed it.

He opened the cremation jar and emptied it into the wind. Jaune should have been here for it. Instead he was bringing the relic to Salem. He should be here to collect their weapons. Instead it was Ruby who held onto them during the ceremony.

Titania wasn't heavy but those weapons sure were. I didn't envy Ruby who seemed to want to carry them. Nora's hammer which Yang seemed content to hold on to for our travels was neatly folded up. She attached it to her belt and put it behind her. As the bruisers of our teams, Yang and Nora had been fairly close.

I received one half of Stormflower from Ruby. I wasn't sure what to do with it. I didn't need a gun but it felt wrong that they should never see use again.

It was wrong.

Jaune should be here to take it. He would know what to do with the weapons. Even if it was just to have them buried.

Amongst the mayhem and chaos Mistral represented Jaune had been like a rock. Sturdy and absolute. In every situation he'd known what to do. Real confidence had been in his heart rather than the false stuff he'd tried to show off freshman year. It was little wonder then, why Ruby lashed herself to him. And now it seemed Ruby was sinking and there was nothing I could do about it.

She was in love with Jaune, our problem child. As little as we knew what to do about Nora and Ren, we knew even less what to do about Jaune.

Ozpin was convinced Jaune was some kind of sleeper agent and not a full blown traitor which only seemed to make things more complicated. If he was a traitor I'd at least know how to classify him. Instead it didn't even seem to be his fault. Well it was and it wasn't. Ruby was fully in his camp but that was always going to be the case, dating or not. She believed in her friends. It was hard to find a fault in her for that.

So I didn't.

Instead I admired it. Arguably she should have been hurt the most, instead she seemed almost ready. Ready for what I wasn't sure. She was adamant that we'd run into Jaune again. It was hard to fault her instincts either. Not when they'd led her so far.

She also didn't want to be felt sorry for. I respected that, too. Lords only know that if it had been me, I'd be in pieces.

I packed Stormflower in my briefcase, carefully wrapping it in cloth. I clicked the briefcase shut over it and tried not to think about it.

"Hard to believe they're all gone." Blake leaned by the door of Yang and my room.  

"JNPR is over. Felt just like that." Yang snapped her fingers. "Could have been us."

I shivered. "It basically was us. But for a chess piece at initiation."

"I don't want to think about that," Blake confessed. "RWBY is still whole."

"The girl or the team 'cause my sister hasn't handled this the best."

"Right. Our team, I suppose," Blake elaborated. "But she traveled with them, right? She was close to them all. Not even counting Jaune."

"They called it Team RNJR or JNRR," I said.

"Sounds painful."

"Like when our team was fractured," Yang said pointedly.

"Right." Blake sounded sheepish. "Except we came back together."

"Did we?" Yang asked. Her eyes red, and not just from tears. There beat a rage filled drum in her voice and it showed in her eyes.

"Well…" Blake trailed off.

"Really? You want to do this now?" I asked.

"Why not now? Should I let the cuts heal only to peel off the scab again?"

"I suppose." I granted. I didn't particularly like it, though. Our friends were barely in the ground, so to speak.

"You left us Blake. You left me. I was as partner-less as Jaune! I thought I'd never see you again. And the worst part was it was your decision. You didn't want to be around me."

"I-"

"You didn't even ask me if I'd go with you!"

I felt like an intruder. On the outside looking in as I knelt by my bed. I wasn't of course. And I could almost feel both of them expecting me to take their side. Yang's aura flared, a bright light in the room where Blake's seemed to cowl in on itself. A darkness that layered over again.

"I needed space. I needed time! Sun-"

"So what? Sun's good enough and I'm not?!"

"For your information he followed me. He didn't ask for my permission, he just came with me. I almost stabbed him over it." Blake anxiously pushed some hair behind her ear. Her human ear. "What happened to you was my fault. Adam came for me."

"Your crazy ex you never told me about? I thought we were past not telling each other things."

"I was trying to keep you safe! To protect you!"

"It didn't work!" Yang waved her prosthesis in Blake's face. "Ignorance may be bliss but it's not safe."

Point Yang. I was in her camp for that one. I was certainly tired of other people deciding what was best for me. I was way past that. It's why I supported her when she demanded that Ozpin be open with us.

"I'm sorry! I just couldn't bear the thought of you looking at me with hatred in your heart." Blake was crying. "Over this or over anything."

"Blake…" Yang protested. "I'd never do that to you. I just thought we were at a point where we'd struggle together. Even through the Whitefang stuff. Your problems are my problems. The way Jaune and my sister did. The way Ruby and Weiss are."

"I thought you'd hate me."

"I'd never hate you, Blake. I couldn't pull it off." Yang's aura looked distinctly cooler. Blake rubbed one arm with the other and wouldn't meet Yang's eyes. Couldn't.

"Is everything alright in here?" It was Ruby at the door. She already had her duffle bag in hand. Aside from that she was wearing Jaune's old hoodie. I guess she's gone through his things now that he was gone and found something she liked.

"We were just talking about when Blake left us," Yang answered.

"Ah," Ruby mumbled. "And is it…"

"We're getting somewhere," Blake said. "Thank you Ruby."

Ruby hovered at the door a moment longer before she said, "well I should…"

"Of course." Blake murmured. "Whatever you need."

I watched her go before I picked up my things. "Weiss?" Yang asked.

"You fools," I muttered. I followed Ruby. She didn't want to be excluded. It was the opposite of what she needed right now.

"They didn't mean anything by it." I caught up to Ruby and took her by the hand.

"I know."

"With everything else that's going on they just don't want to bother you with it."

"I know."

"It wasn't anything besides that."

"I know." I didn't feel anything from Ruby other than a quiet patience. I didn't get the sense that she was annoyed or flustered. In fact, her aura seemed reserved too. I could still taste the cinnamon and roses.

"We're all just worried about you."

She nodded. "I know. I…" She was masking and I hated to see it. I missed her energy. Her aura barely extended beyond her skin. If I wasn't touching her I doubt I'd have been able to feel it. It was a silenced, withdrawn thing.

"Are you feeling better today?" I asked.

"Not really I'm -um…" she trailed off.

"You just miss them. I know," I breathed.

She nodded. "We all do."

"But you feel so much more than most. Don't be afraid to talk to me. Ever. Please," I begged.

She wiped her hand across her face and took some silvery tears. "Everyone's treating me like I'm made of glass. And I am… and I am, but…"

I nodded and waited for her to get a head on her emotions.

"I'm not any more than anyone else should be." She finished at length. "And they're fighting."

"Yang felt like she had to," I said.

"Maybe she did. She's a fighter. She…" Ruby trailed off again and wiped some more of her tears away. "I want to go to sleep. I just want to sleep this away." She mumbled miserably.

I kissed her forehead. The kiss was not quick but held no passion.

"That's depression."

"Is it?" She asked.

"Yes. Little energy. It can be a symptom."

"I guess if you look at it like a sickness…"

"It is a sickness."

"That's very Weiss of you." She gave me a giggle and I felt a tidal wave of relief. The noise was quiet and simple.

"Well thank you." I managed. She traced her hand over the skin of one of my arms and I shivered.

"You've got goosebumps," she murmured.

"Well-I…" I cleared my throat and mastered myself. "Have you finished packing?"

She nodded. "I'm all set."

"Then we're just waiting on Yang and Blake now."

"They'll be ready before it's time to leave." She mumbled again. "Weiss, about the plan..."

"Me going on ahead, you mean."

"Yeah. I really don't like it."

"Me neither," I whispered. "But it might be the only way to get through to Ironwood. And it's only assuming Ozpin can't pass a message on to him using code."

"But if communication was up and running, they could do it from here. You'll be the message bearer Weiss. And I don't want to be split up from you."

"I know. I know. I'll miss you too Ruby."

"I wish Jaune were here," she confessed. "He'd come up with a plan."

"I'm sure you do. I bet he would, too. He was cunning like that."

"Is. He's not dead."

"Of course, I only meant…"

"I know," She muttered again. I found myself touching her face. The tips of my fingers grazing her cheeks and I watched in a sort of sick fascination as she leaned into the touch. Eyes closed. "I'm worried about you, Weiss."

"I'll be with the greatest military force on Remnant."

"That doesn't make you safe."

"What does safety even mean? Salem has a long reach. We thought Jaune was safe. I promise I'll be as safe as I can be." She reached up and pressed my hand against her face at that.

"And you'll stay away from your father."

"And… yes. I'll avoid him at all costs."

"Your sister… is she nice to you?" Ruby asked. "I only saw a little back at Beacon. I wasn't sure what to make of it."

A difficult question. Winter was always distant but that didn't put her in the same category as my father or brother. Or even my mother.

"Yes, I think so."

"Stay with her, then."

"What if Ironwood only lets Oscar through, though?" I let an unbidden fear out into the wild. I wanted it to be dissuaded. "What if he keeps you all back?"

"He won't. He works with Qrow too. At which point…"

"Right. That makes sense." I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Plus if you talk about knowing about the relics..." She sighed into my touch. She let out a little humming sound and smiled for what felt like the first time in years, though it had only been days. "Everything will be okay."

I nodded. "Everything will be fine."

"Ladies." Qrow came in on mechanical legs. "I'm not interrupting something, am I?" His gait was too smooth, his strides too even. It belied his mechanical nature.

He seemed to be genuinely asking and I took a step away from Ruby as though caught in some act. "We were just…" I trailed off.

"We were just talking about the mission," Ruby said.

"Ah, the mission." It was Oscar. Or maybe Ozpin. Probably Ozpin. "There's always more to discuss, and if I may, more to discuss about Jaune."

"He has the relic," Ruby went on.

"That he does. And he is a cunning mind second to none. I'm sure, given enough time, he will learn to use the relic. Which, I confess, is a little terrifying. And he only seemed to be growing stronger from my perspective."

"When he was at Beacon he was so weak, by the time he turned he was the strongest of us. And you're right, it was like with each day he was getting better," I muttered. "Limit Breaker… it was aptly named. It seemed like he was pushing himself every single day."

"Yes. I'm afraid of what he will be in Salem's hands. You knew him best Ruby. I'd like a moment of your time to talk it over with you."

"The kid's smart but his options are limited. We weren't sure what his next move will be. Whether we should report him to the police or not." Qrow said.

"I'm… I'm not sure. I never thought he'd turn on us. Turn on me."

"Well, now that he did, we need to come up with a plan." Qrow grumbled. He took a swig of his flask. "Whether that's keeping a watch out for him ourselves or reporting him."

"Yes… the relic may already be in Salem's hands. You may be happy to hear the Malachite reported seeing him, acting and walking about. She gave up this information freely to us. She seemed afraid of him."

Ruby did seem happy to hear that. "Then we've confirmed he's alive? And Malachite is watching out for him?"

"Only smart of her. The kid was strong, and fast." Qrow muttered as an afterthought.

"Is. You all keep talking about him in the past tense." Ruby said with some heat.

"Of course, Ms. Rose. You still believe in his innocence, then?"

"You were the one who came up with the theory of him being a sleeper agent, weren't you?"

"Only as a plausible. It may be that he saw now with the relic as the opportune moment to strike at us." Ozpin said. "We had an interesting conversation before he left. On why I let him into my school. He claimed that I only let him in because I thought he was Salem's agent. It could merely have been mind games, but it was enough to make me doubt that he was acting of his own volition when he took the relic. His possible status as a victim in all this remains only that, a possibility. More importantly, however, if he were a sleeper agent that still makes him a threat to us. He is still allied against us."

"Jaune'll lay low. If he doesn't want us to find him then we won't. He's too smart for that," Ruby managed. I rubbed her back with one hand. Actually talking and being involved seemed to be doing her some real good. Who was I to shut it down? This was more energy than I'd seen from her in days.

"Then the relic is truly lost to us. We put out feelers just in case but…" Ozpin shrugged. "We'll have to manage to keep the remaining relics out of her hands. And an ear to the ground where Jaune is concerned. In the longest term, however, the relic of knowledge is perhaps the most dangerous relic she could have acquired first. And Jaune is very dangerous. As dangerous as any of Salem's other agents."

Ruby's fists tightened by her sides.

"A question, Ms. Rose?"

"I have questions for Jaune, not for you."

"My apologies, then."

"You need to face the facts kido. He killed two of his so-called friends."

"Qrow, now may not be the time…" Ozpin began.

"What is it you think you know about him that I don't?" Ruby demanded. "Why wasn't the opportune moment all the times we were alone together?"

"That's easy. He didn't have his hands on a relic, then." Qrow grunted. He seemed as angry as Ruby was. That he didn't catch Jaune before. That he was weaker now than he used to be.

Ruby bristled at her uncle. Fists clenching and unclenching by her sides.

"You think he saw he shot and just took it?" I asked. "That's what you think of him?"

"It's as I said, a plausibility. And being forgiving on him for it will do us no favors." Ozpin said. "Jaune is brutal."

"Jaune is kind!" Ruby almost shouted. "He is sweet!"

"You have another explanation for what happened then?" Ozpin asked.

"We don't. Not yet." I said. I was backing Ruby. Nobody deserved it quite like my partner did. She would have my back. She had Jaune's back even when the odds seemed stacked against him.

"Then I'm afraid we will have to operate as though he is our enemy. We can't afford the risk."

"I'll show you. I'll find what I need to to prove you wrong!"

"Ms. Rose I very much hope that you do."

pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq pq

-WG

[bridgyrose]

Maybe some domestic cinder/Pyrrha?

Cinder let out a content sigh as she watched Pyrrha in the kitchen, a small smile creeping across her face as she watched her wife enjoy cooking. Part of her was still not sure how things ended up like this for her, going from working with Salem to becoming a huntress and married to the woman who gave her a chance. Though, her smile dropped as her eyes once again made their way to the scars that ran across Pyrrha’s arms. The same scars that she had given her back when Beacon fell. 

“Breakfast will be ready soon,” Pyrrha said with a smile as she turned around, making sure to be careful to not lose her balance. “And then we can make our way to Beacon to help clear out the grimm.” 

“Are you sure you want to do that?” Cinder asked as she walked over to her wife, gently taking her arm with her own mechanical hand. “I know you’ve been training again, but the grimm still arent clearing out like they’re supposed to.” 

“I’m sure I want to. Besides, I know how hard it is for you to keep going back.” 

Cinder glanced down at her arm, colored red, black, and gold as a reminder of what she did, of how many people were lost by her desperate actions to get power and freedom. That night had stayed clear in her mind over the years, a nightmare that would never leave her as she watched herself cause Beacon to fall over and over and over again, haunting her in a wave of neverending guilt. 

Pyrrha gently took her hand with a smile. “You know you’ve made up for it, right?” 

“I-I do.” Cinder took a breath to calm herself, closing her eyes and only seeing Beacon burning in front of her. “But I see how everyone looks at me. How they always expect me to return to how I was, how they expect me to kill again or finish what I started. They… they dont trust me.” 

“It doesnt matter what they think. What matters is that you’ve been trying to correct your wrongs and you’ve been making progress with that. Even Ruby’s starting to trust you.” 

Cinder slowly opened her eyes and looked into Pyrrha’s green eyes, feeling a bit of comfort. “She still doesnt trust me much after I… took her eye.” 

“Yeah, but she’s been working with you more.” 

“I… I know…” Cinder pulled away from Pyrrha, giving a small smile to her. “But you’re sure you dont want to train a bit more before coming with me? Ruby will be with me and its not like we’ll be going far since the grimm are still too active there. Mostly for Ruby to practice.” 

“Its been long enough that I’m ready to try to fight again.” 

Cinder nodded and kissed Pyrrha’s cheek. “In that case, you can join us in a week. I want to make sure that if you’re going to join, I want to make sure you’re back in a condition that you can keep up.” 

Pyrrha smiled and pressed into Cinder. “I promise I’m ready. I’ve recovered, I’ve trained, I’m ready.” 

“Alright,” Cinder said with a sigh as she pulled Pyrrha close. “Then show me what you can do tomorrow. Today, Ruby and I really need to be alone.” 

“What for?” 

“Practice.” 

“Practice for what?” 

Cinder paused for a moment as she tried to figure out what to say. She couldnt just tell Pyrrha about Ruby’s eyes or what their training was for, nor could she say she was working for Ozpin, or at least for Glynda while she tries to find wherever Ozpin ended up, and there was no way she could explain Salem to her wife when she could barely explain everything to Ruby. Still, she couldnt see a reason to lie to Pyrrha, or worry her. “Its just some training to hone our skills and see if we can make it to the wyvern on the tower. My maiden power and her scythe… I think we can do it.” 

Pyrrha smiled a bit. “Be home before dinner, okay?” 

“I’ll be back shortly after lunch.” Cinder smiled and gave Pyrrha a quick kiss before pulling away to grab her weapons. “And then you can show me what you can do.”