#blame beowolf for this one

[pheraed]

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

---

…How had it come to this?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

~During The Fall of Beacon~

Marigold: You're RUNNING! After everything we've been through-

Remi: Yes I'm Running! You heard Ironwood- No one would blame me for choosing to live-

Marigold: We Went to Academies to be heroes!

Remi: YOU DID! You, an Melony, and Will all Went to HAven to learn how to fucking Fight! I joined to do something with my life! I joined because I didn't want to die sitting behind some fucking anvil or schematics - I wanted to die fucking doing something!

Remi: I Didn't Choose HAVEN!

Remi: I couldn't go to Bulwark because I have no Aura! You've seen me take hits- I can't- Hell, It's broken Right now!

Remi: Vacuo HAtes My Family as much as they hate Schnees, and That's saying something!

Remi: And now, I wAnna live! I want to Survive, and I want you all to survive, so if that makes me a coward, then I'm a Fucking Cow- MOVE!

Remi Lunged into Marigold, shoving her out of the way of the Claws of a Beowolf. They dug into his lower back, tearing a chunk of flesh out with it, saving him from pain as he fall unconcious

Marigold: REMI-

Beowolf: RRAAAA-*Crunch, Schlick*

Marigold: *Twisting her sword in it's skull, Tearing her coat off and Wrapping it around Remi's wound* You contradictory piece of shit- If you survive I'm gonna- I'll- I'll Damn you to the darkest depths for this! So you better- YOu better survive!

[sayhwaet]

Ailell, the Valley of Torment, is said to have once been used as a training grounds for monks as well as a place for the Goddess to burn corrupt maidens with her heavenly light, but few nowadays can attest to the veracity of such claims seeing as how almost nobody who treasures their own life dares to step foot anywhere near Ailell. However, new magical developments from House Daphnel have created a spell that allows a person to withstand even the hottest of flames so long as it’s casted regularly! Brave souls are encouraged to see the miraculous effects of such magic themselves and trek into these once terrifying lands. With any luck, you might even run into one of these fabled, hardened monks yourself! Or perhaps you might be able to save a beautiful, wayward maiden from being burned from the Goddess’ judgment? [Grants Faith +1] (starter for @hosannan and @charmblooded)

Beowolf didn't have much faith in this spell, if he were being honest.

Well, he might have been accused a time or two of lacking in faith in general, mightn't he? Not totally pious, for what purpose did that serve a man such as he, a man so lacking in blessings by their beloved Crusaders, but having earned the strength of his body by the sweat of his brow? Where had the gods been for him when his belly and coinpurse were empty?

Where had the gods been when that most unholy fire rained down on he and his from above, if not in the watchful smirk of that pale face and those burning eyes?

And it weren't no Belhalla, but it was hot as Hodr's -

No, there was a lady present, wasn't there? Well, he could damn well think it.

He grimaced, watching the horizon with some dubiousness as they approached, his eyes raking over the rising shimmer of heat that he could smell it, he swore it, the char of ground and flesh and sound alike and his head spun and throbbed.

Beowolf shook his head to clear it. "Listen," he said, and his voice came out hoarser than he intended, not something he could blame on the dry heat if this spell was doing its job, but not something that he was certain stemmed from that, either. "We're here to look for any wanderers, not to become any ourselves, clear?"

The young lady was a student, but the young man - Crusaders, these kids looked just alike, didn't they? Siblings? Musta been - was a knight, and worse, he seemed an earnest sort. The kind who might have gotten himself lost on the account of another.

"We'll stick to the trails outlined for us, but we ain't blazin' our own." A pause. "If y'll pardon the pun."

through the valley of the shadow of death

[unofficialadamtaurus]

What We Bury

It’s 900 words of pure self-indulgence, folks. We see so little of Adam and Blake’s relationship, romantic or otherwise, in the series. I think his manipulation could, at times, have been much more nuanced and difficult to separate from good intentions than that depiction in the Adam short.

Adam heard her coming long before Blake sat down next to him. Her footsteps on the grassy hillside were quiet, not silent, and in the dead of night there were few other sounds to mask her approach. A slight shift in his breathing let her know that he wasn’t yet in the mood to talk.

This routine, old and familiar, soothed some of Blake’s agitation. Unlike their tent, no one else from the camp would disturb them out here. There would be no whispers or worried looks. For however long until sunrise, they could claim this small spot as theirs and theirs alone.

Blake laid out on her back so they could stare skyward side-by-side. Her gaze traced the myriad constellations splayed out in the cloudless heavens. The Rearing Ursa; the Howling Beowolf; and the Huntsman, Adam’s favorite, facing off against them both. A scattering of stars upon which the image of a single person holding a spear against two massive Grimm could be superimposed. Whether the Huntsman was man or woman, human or faunus, depended on the beholder. Adam, she knew, saw himself, for behind the huntsman huddled the Children, another cluster of points given new meaning by those searching for it. Blake could see him too, if she tilted her head, squinted - but it was getting harder.

Adam shifted. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. Tired.”

“You should get some rest.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight.” She said it lightly, but the words were heavy on her tongue.

“I can put you on night watch,” Adam offered. “Would that take your mind off it?”

Standing silent guard over the camp with nothing except for her thoughts and the shifting shadows for hours on end? “No, I don’t think that would help. I’ve just been reading.” Which did help, a little. Too bad she’d now finished all her books, the whole reason she had wandered out here to find him and occupy herself anew.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

His offer hung in the air. Blake rested her hands on her belly, fingers twined together and shaking. “I don’t think so.”

He turned his head towards her, but she refused to look. Her stomach was turning over itself again. She’d thought the nausea was done.

“You couldn’t have known he didn’t have aura,” Adam said. “It was self-defense, Blake.”

Her nails dug into the backs of her hands. “I didn’t have the right to kill him.”

“He gave you no choice.”

“There’s always a choice.”

He sighed, turned away, let it drop. Blake swallowed down the burning in her throat. The hypocrisy in how she was seeking comfort for this from Adam despite the doubts that had begun to plague her every waking moment was not lost on her. Adam wouldn’t have hesitated; he wouldn’t still be able to see that man’s face; he wouldn’t have lost any sleep at all over murdering someone. In his mind, there were no doubts. In hers, there were nothing but.

She licked her lips. “Do you think some people are beyond saving?”

Adam breathed in long and deep, then let it out just as slow. “I think I usually don’t have the time to figure it out.”

“In general,” she pushed, heart beating faster as she approached the line they never dared speak about. “If it wasn’t a fight for survival. If you had the time.”

At this, Adam was silent for a long while. “In that case,” he eventually said, sounding out every word with the same slow deliberation he usually reserved for calls with Sienna, “I would know what mistakes they made to end up against me. It would just be context, Blake.” He pushed himself up onto one arm, abandoning the sky for her, and this time, she met him eye to eye. “It was survival. You can’t blame yourself for what they did to end up against you. They made their choice, and you made yours. You have to make your peace with that.”

Is that what you do? she wanted to ask, but the words stopped up on her tongue and something else came out in their place. “What if it was someone you knew?”

His eyes narrowed. “We aren’t still talking about the ambush today, are we?”

Her heart was in her throat. A lie fell from her lips. “The book I just finished - the protagonist has to kill her sister. They grew up together. The author barely spent a sentence on her grief.”

Coward, she told herself, at once the accuser and the ashamed.

“Then,” he said, eyes flicking between hers and that furrow in his brow fading while steel slid into his voice, “if we’re speaking in hypotheticals, I’d still put them down.”

Blake pressed her lips together, a force of will keeping her ears and expression steady against the waves of conflict lapping at her heart.

It wasn’t a perfect barrier, though. Adam softened his expression. “It’s easier to mourn when you know you did everything you could. You don’t need to question yourself, Blake. Let me take on that burden. I’ll bear it for the both of us.”

Blake woke in her Atlas bed with a start, tears streaming down her face and a broken blade twisting in her chest. Adam’s ghost fell away with her sheets, leaving a hollow chill in its wake.

Silently so she didn’t wake her team, she drew up her knees, buried her face in her hands, and sobbed.

[ayoalex]

No one asked but head canon that I have for some of the characters that shouldn't be a thing and I hope it never becomes canon.

Ruby:

- She's just a lamp at this point, it's good for practice tho

- Absolutely tried to adopted a Beowolf at one point in V4/V5 until Qrow made her stop.

- She can cook... Kinda she just know the basics. The only thing she knows to bake is cookies, like that's it.

- She listen to rock but her favorite band is One Direction.

- She may have cut herself way to many times while cleaning or maintaining Crescent Rose, she's still sad she didn't even got a cool scar put of it because of her aura.

- She once tried to cut her own hair in V4 and then gave up and just decided to wait till some actual decent hairdresser could do it for her.

- She doesn't know how to pronounce correctly some stuffs so she just call them "thingy"

- Tried to dyed her hair all red like Gerard Way... Yang didn't let her touch any hair products for 5y.

Weiss:

- Doesn't know how to drive a bicycle and at this point of her life she's just afraid of asking.

- "I don't cook, I don't clean"

- Later Yang taught her how to clean, so at least the dorm isn't as much of a disaster.

- "Yes I have a scar in my eye, no I'm not blind"

- The only fiction book she actually read was Sailor Moon manga and that's why she uses combat skirts.

- Her favorite character is Sailor Venus

- Ruby once showed her the anime and she just cried, cuz "goddamit there's way to many episodes Ruby".

- She fights everyone just for shit and giggles, she just enjoy the drama.

- She knows how to play the kazoo for some strange reason.

Blake:

- She will never tell anyone but she onced read an hentai by accident at the age of 12 and since then she has a phobia of tentacles.

- Is a bad influence... Specially to Ruby.

- She once skipped an entire day of classes because she was sleepy, Weiss was really mad at her.

- "Men, I wish I had the money to buy that" Proceeds to hack the system so the company sends her shit for free

- Yang has to tell her she can't just continue doing illegal shits now that's she's at school and out of the White Fang.

- Sometimes she just look directly at Weiss eyes and just break some shits to make her upset.

- "Blake, isn't your abdomen too exposed on battle?" "I want them to know I'm hotter than them Illia"

- "High boots? Check. Skinny pants? Check. Fat ass? Check. Ok I'm ready to fuck shit up"

Yang:

- She loves every type of music but she only knows how to twerk with classic music.

- Knows every word of "Bet on it".

- Used to watch Turtle Ninjas and Michelangelo is her favorite.

- The hot lesbian weeb, geek, nerd and jock everyone loves.

- For some reason she knows ton shit of History and Philosophy.

- She once made an essay about High School Musical named "Sharpay Evans was the real victim."

- She is a fanatic of car/bike video games like Need for Speed, etc

- Absolutely loves GTA and she used to play with Velvet and Blake all the time in Beacon

- She and Nora once went outside on a stormy day to see if by Nora activating her semblance she could electrocuted Yang so she could activate her own semblance... It strangely worked.

- She can't really cook but she's an amazing baker... Tho she only bakes on Ruby's birthday

- She has a whole archives of blueprint of some motors, cars, bikes, weapons, etc.

- Yang and Blake just used to go to clubs or bars to bet money on some dudes in pool and blackjack knowing damn well Blake was an expert on both.

- Yang knows different instruments, her favorite song to play is the Wii Sports song

Jaune:

- He loves romantic movies, The Notebook always makes him cry

- He learned to play guitar to impress girls to make him look like a tough guy, now he just play acoustic covers of Britney Spears discography.

- Circus is a personal favorite of him.

- He knows how to dance, used to do ballet with his sisters and once a boyfriend of one of his sisters taught him hiphop

- Has a teddy bear that he brings everywhere with him.

Nora:

- Fav food is pancakes but she absolutely loves eating pizza

- She always gives strange ideas to Yang since she knows Yang is a closet nerd and geek.

- She saw Pokemon once and since then have tried to imitate Pikachu attacks.

- Power Ranger is her shit.

- Hot girl shit

- If Ruby is a lamp, then she's a charger.

Ren:

- He did tried to dyed his hair pink but didn't like the result so decided for just a part of his hair pink.

- Everyone things he's the normal one of the group until you listen to him in a deep discussion with Weiss about Sailor Moon.

- Him and Blake casually bond once because of tea and now they just recommend each other new teas they have tried.

- He absolutely loves cartoons, Samurai Jack is one of his fav.

- The emo kid that is also a sunshine.

Oscar:

- "I cook and I clean"

- He just think Yang is cool and it doesn't matter how much Weiss tries to make him stop thinking that Ruby just tells some cool story about Yang.

- "Sir, they are my found family, can you please take me back to them?"

- Loves talking with Blake, she's always giving him books recommendations and she's one of the few that don't strictly treat him like a kid.

- He tried playing video games with Ruby... Let just say he prefers spending time with Ren now.

- Knows every word of Short King Anthem, he sings the chorus while Weiss and Nora rap the other 2 verses.

- He watch Love Island religiously and even has the game in his scroll.

Bonus:

- Sun made a GC with only Illia and Yang on it so they could talk about Blake but he forgot they don't have international communications anymore.

- Coco and Yang and Blake used to go to the same gay bar.

- Summer used to curse when playing video games with Qrow and one day Ruby heard her. Since Ruby could barely talk she didn't cared until at dinner Ruby said "Fuck" In her tiny baby voice and that's the first word Ruby said... Also Qrow was banned of playing video games with the girls in the same room because Summer blamed him.

- Phyrra was a musical fanatic that she and Yang just watched a musical every Sunday.

[howlingday]

Ruby: Hey, guys, I'm thinking about writing a new song. What should it be about? It needs to be a good topic.

Nora: Ooh! Write a song about Jaune!

Jaune: Why?

Nora: Uh, because you're awesome?

Yang: Yeah, I wanna hear what kind of song Jaune would have.

Ruby: Okay, I think I got one. (Clears her throat) Jaune is a lame bitch~. (Everyone stares at Ruby, Jaune is gobsmacked) I hate that stupid hoodie that you wear! You are such a dick. Fuck you~! (Everyone but Jaune laughs) How's that?

Jaune: I... I thought this song was going to be, I don't know, friendly?

Ruby: Jaune is a peto-file~!. (Jaune looks at her wide-eyed) I've seen him fuck a bunch of kids~!.

Jaune: (Scowling) That's not true.

Ruby: (Everyone else is laughing) Oh, what a peto-phile!.

Jaune: It's a lie. A dirty lie!

Ruby: It's the fucking truth~.

Jaune: (Smiles) My name is Ruby and I'm a slob~. (Everyone looks to him)

Ruby: (Everyone looks to her) No, I'm not~!.

Jaune: I cook mac and cheese on the stove and I let it dry out~!.

Ruby: (Red in the face) I've never cooked mac and cheese, you fucking liar~!.

Jaune: (Everyone but Ruby laughs) I'm too lazy to wash my clothes; I'm Ruby~.

Ruby: I washed my clothes last night! You're just fucking lying, Jaune~!.

Jaune: No, she didn't~.

Ruby: Yes, I did~!. (The two share a laugh) In fact, the washing machine broke~!. (Jaune struggles to speak from laughing) The washing machine broke~!.

Jaune: My name's Ruby, and I rip holes in the sides of bags like an animal~.

Yang: (Laughing) What are you talking about?

Jaune: When we were at your house last time, I went to go feed Zwei, and the side of the bag was torn open like a Beowolf got into it! (Ruby and Yang laugh) It wasn't even open correctly! I blame you, Ruby!

Ruby: The tops of those bags are really hard to open sometimes. You wouldn't know because you hate animals~.

Jaune: I put rose petals on everything I do and ruin everything. My name's Ruby~.

Ruby: ...Okay, that one actually cut a little too deep. (Jaune laughs, Ruby chuckles)

Jaune: I bought a new 90 inch plasma TV so I can watch memes I find on Schnee-Net~. (Everyone laughs) MY NAME'S RUBY~!.

Ruby: FUCK YOU, JAUNE~!. (Everyone is rolling on the floor) You are a big, huge asshole... Yeah~.

Jaune: Ah... I think it needs work.

Ruby: Yeah, you're probably right. (Extends her hand) Still friends?

Jaune: (Hugs her) Did we stop? (Ruby chuckles and hugs back)

[nagaficat]

"There have been several," she admits. Not just her friends either but their children too have come forth and thrown blame down at her feet. Have looked at her as though she is not the person they once held dear.

She does not think she has changed. She remembers now, each and every precious moment spent with them. And she still holds them safely in her heart. It should not matter that her heart has grown since they last met and now holds room to love others as well.

"Lady Ayra, Sir Beowolf, even my own sister in law Lady Ethlyn." She offers their names freely in an attempt to soothe her broken heart. She trusts him and there are precious few others she might turn to for comfort right now. "They do not understand our love. I am cursed for continuing to love you, forced to choose between you and them. I will not! I cannot!"

It had been Lord Sigurd himself who taught her that love is everything pure and good in the world. He taught her not to fear it but to embrace it. He would understand. She knows he would.

He pulls back, arm tight around her waist and fire burning in his eyes. She knows, if she should ask him to, he would burn the world for her. She hopes he knows she never would. Delicate fingertips find his cheek again where the remnants of a bruise still remain.

"Man?" Her brows furrow deep and she knows she has caught him in a moment of untruth. "It was not a disgruntled student, was it? One of Lord Sigurd's--one of my friends--they did this to you."

"I know." She allows herself to relax against him, letting him pull her in close, and seeking comfort in the warmth and safety of his embrace. It is difficult to let the worry ease from her heart, especially when she had a violent encounter of her own just moments before finding him now. Deirdre reaches and touches the cheek Ayra had slapped, the ache still fresh in her heart. "I know you will do whatever it takes to keep me safe."

She considers telling him. Her heart is lonely with the loss of a dear friend. It would do her well to speak about her troubles but she knows his temper burns brighter than his Valflame. The last thing she wants is for him to lash out against her friends again.

She strokes his hair softly, tangling and untangling her fingers in it. "I have met several of my friends here recently. Friends that I met when I was with Lord Sigurd. Friends that had their lives torn apart the day he was executed. My love, you know that I do not blame you but I worry..."

[bridgyrose]

Khan'd Rose AU. Day one, and things are just heating up. With so much aggression at each other the grimm just keep coming and they done nothing but blame the other. This is going to be a long three days... Wait those clouds look really dark... Ah crap, is that a storm?!

Weiss: *groaning in anger while in a tree* This is all your fault! 

Ruby: It’s not my fault! 

Weiss: Yes it is! 

[A beowolf howls below them]

Ruby: *sighing* Look, lets just get along-

Weiss: I’m not going to get along with an animal! 

Ruby: And you dont have a choice! You’re just a spoiled brat who has gotten everything she wanted! But right now, we HAVE to get along! 

Weiss: *frowning* You wouldnt understand what I had to go through. 

Ruby: *sighing* You’re right, I dont. But I dont care. Right now, I just want to survive this and the only way we’re going to is by helping each other. 

Weiss: Fine.

Ruby: Now all we have to do is-

[Thunder cracks above Weiss and Ruby, pouring rain down on them]

Ruby: *sighing* -get the tent set up…

Weiss: This is just great. Stuck in a tree and now it’s raining. 

Ruby: *grabbing her scythe and eyeing the grimm below them* Think you can cover me with some glyphs? 

Weiss: I dont have a choice, do I?

Ruby: *dropping down* Nope! 

Weiss: *sighing and creating a few glyphs* You’re going to be the death of me.

[noneatnonedotcom]

Magical Girl rwby au

yang idly wondered if enjoying this made her a bad person as her flame covered fist crushed the skull of a beowolf. she sidestepped the one behind it as it lunged forward swiping and snarling at the air where she was before. she brought her leg up with a devastating kick to its midsection as the Grimm went sailing through the air wincing at the mistake yang went to follow it only to be distracted by her sister Ruby: yang we’re all done here you ready to head back? yang looked over to her sister the silver-eyed girl was smiling as the read scythe she rested against her shoulder was dissipated into silver sparkles. the scene was almost cute if not for the Grimm viscera that was splattered all over her frilly dress and red hood Yang: yeah we’ll head home, you look like you could use a bath  ruby pouted cutely at the remark and yang smirked Ruby: it’s the price I pay for awesome, and crescent rose is definitely that! I mean did you see my baby cutting through those Grimm? she was all “swing” and they were all “bleah” and then they went “fwoosh” and it was like those ninja movies blake likes but it’s a lot less cool when you have to clean off the blood  yang smiled at the excitement in her baby sister's voice. it wasn’t always like this back, in the beginning, they had trouble using their powers it was more a chore than anything but then they’d met Weiss and blake and Pyrrha and the five of them working together really helped cut down on the amount of work they had to do any given night. tonight it was her and ruby. tomorrow would be Weiss and blake, then Pyrrha the strongest of them would take a swing at it solo. then a day off and back to her and ruby unless one of them wanted to switch off for someone else which they did on occasion. sometimes they all decided to go out together when there was nothing going on. which was most days. since Pyrrha was the only one with after school stuff like sports and Weiss had her job as a singer to work on it was typically just her and ruby. and blake but the cat could be so damn lazy and Ruby: swear jar! yang: but I didn’t say anything! Ruby: you were thinking it! yang reached down and started to give her sister a noogie  yang: little brat! Ruby: arg, yang no! ruby took off in a flurry of rose petals as she used her magic to run away yang smirked and took off after her a streak of fire burning through the sky completely forgetting about the Grimm she’d sent flying in the opposite direction ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- jaune idly wondered if avoiding this would make him a bad person over the last few days, a beowolf had been seen in the area. most thought it was a superstition but jaune knew the truth. and he hated that fact he checked his gear again, his family sword hung at his hip, on his back was a small pack holding an emergency medical kit, extra water and a little bit of food (he’d learned his lesson after that time he’d gotten trapped in the cave) his hoodie was more a source of comfort than disguise. after all most people didn’t focus on him when there were Grimm around. still, the hood made him feel more disguised so he’d keep it. his back up knife hung on the opposite hip from his sword.  frankly, he’d have liked a gun but guns didn’t hurt Grimm. only his family's ancestral blades. he wielded crocea mors, his father wielded  Claíomh Solais and they were alone against the dark.  he silently cursed the lack of a brother and thanked the gods that Adrian wasn’t required to fight. he drew his blade and stood. briefly shaking out the stiffness of his limbs as he followed the Grimm back into its den. he’d honestly have preferred a pack of beowolves. yes, they were dangerous in numbers but those numbers could be mitigated when they were alone they tended to grow... alpha beowolf: *lands behind jaune and roars, shaking the crumbling building around them* bigger jaune lunged to the side but just a second too late as the Grimm grabbed his leg with its clawed hand. throwing him into and through the ruined wall of the abandoned building. he rolled as he hit the ground dodging the claws of the Grimm before retaliating with a slash of his own to the beast which howled in rage  great now it was mad. he struggled to breathe as he moved around the debris-covered floor trying to get away from the steel rending claws by the barest margin. trying to preserve as much room as he could for further movement. barely flinching as the claws cut open his face just under his eye as they grazed him. dipping under a swipe jaune saw his opportunity and slashed open its neck. as the black blood spilled freely from the new wound it backhanded him launching him into the wall once more as he struggled to stay awake against the coming blackout. jaune: *through gritted teeth* get up jaune the Grimm having noticed he was still alive lunged at him jaune: fucking move dumb ass! he rolls to the side stumbling as he stood tripping and twisting his ankle as he grunted in pain. luckily for him, he was distracted from the pain by the pain of a set of claws ripping through his chest just barely shallow enough to survive. he rolled back as the Grimm lunged again he managed to get the sword in-between its teeth as the Grimm tried desperately to bite his face off. they struggled for what felt like an hour before he felt the Grimm weaken. loss of blood taking it’s tole as the massive beast was finally rolled off of him. he placed his sword against its throat before cutting it open. as the Grimm dispersed into the air jaune leaned back against a wall and slid down exhausted doing a quick check he had four deep cuts on his chest that he was going to have to stitch shut, a cut on his face that was definitely gonna scare jaune snorted at that thought jaune: oh no, my precious modeling career a couple of broken ribs, a sprained ankle, and a concussion he was gonna be out of commission for a while. jaune: *forcing himself to stand* that went far better than expected he limped off, heading back home where his sisters and mother could patch him up. great thing about having such a large family  there was always someone around to patch up your horrible painful wounds  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ruby  wondered if this was some sort of punishment for being a bad person she’d been transferred to beacon at the behest of ozpin, an old friend of her moms and someone who knew about the maidens and their powers. her silver eyes being the main reason but her recent breakthrough with her mechanical engineering class had given him an excuse to invite her to the prestigious school. her friends had promised to show her around but there was only one problem with that Ruby: where the heck was I supposed to meet them again?  she studied the map of the admittedly huge campus as if it would offer any more information  unknown voice: excuse me? do you need some help? ruby: *turning around grateful for the help* yeah I was looking for... the guy she saw when she turned around was tall. his shaggy blonde hair framed a scared and tired face that didn’t look any less scary for the smile on it as he leaned down. ruby backed up against the map on the wall  scary guy: for...? ruby: *squeaking* library the guy nodded  scary guy: alright, so you’ll wanna head for the music room the stares past that will take you to the third floor the other stairs are down after something ripped them up pretty bad so that’s the only way up there ruby remembered exactly what had ripped up those stares she’d been the one to kill it after all.  she might have made the stares worse with her baby but now wasn't the time to cast blame.  even if it was she blamed violent video games scary guy: now did you catch all that? ruby froze, she’d zoned out, why had she zoned out! oh god now he was frowning at her, she’d made him mad! who knows what he’d do to her now? he grabbed her hand and she felt her life flash before her eyes scary guy:*growling* come on she was too young to die! contrary to her previous thoughts, she wasn’t actually in danger. as they had walked she’d noticed something that took her back ruby: you have a cute bunny on your hoodie! scary guy:* embarrassed* it’s pumpkin Pete  ruby: *giggles* scary guy: *chuckles* sure go ahead and destroy my pride, ah well at least I made a pretty girl laugh *winks* from there the conversation went to things like comic books, then it went to weapons (scythes are impractical but really cool regardless, he though swords were better the philistine) guns (guns were awesome) older sisters (they both loved them but sometimes they were too much) and sweets (he was actually quite the baker since his mother had told him the fastest way to a girls heart was through her sweet tooth) by the time they made it to the library they were laughing at each others jokes and he was smiling and now she had to say he didn’t actually look that scary... maybe rugged oh no, he was hot! ruby:*blushing* uhsoanywaystheresmysisterishouldgobye! she ran into the library only to be caught by yang and pulled into a bone-crushing hug  yang: he didn’t do anything to you right? I swear to god if that asshole touched you Weiss: we’ll need to talk to him  blake: why was he even around you? Pyrrha: did jaune hurt you at all? ruby: *struggling to get free* who are you talking about? yang: *looking ruby over* that guy you were running away from ruby: *finally getting free* oh, uh... no, no he didn’t do anything, he actually helped me get here when I got lost Ruby:*internally* so his name’s jaune? huh, short, sweet, rolls off the tongue *nods* I love it Weiss: well I suppose even a monster like him can be kind blake: you should be careful ruby, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what he could have done to you ruby: *tilting her head* huh? Pyrrha: ruby he didn’t touch you did he? ruby: *remembers him grabbing her hand* uh yeah, it was a little scary at first since I didn’t know him *remembers the conversation as they walked* but then I kinda really enjoyed it *remembers what she thought of him before getting to the library, blushes red* I think I kinda maybe really like him now wby+p: *shocked silence* yang: he needs to die

[cavaliant]

13 for any/all of them! what direction do u desire....

13. Do you have any plans for the future of your muse? Would you like to see them grow a certain way?

Under the cut bc that’s a lot of people lmao

Asaello: I’d like him to realize that he doesn’t have to act so tough all the time or hide that he cares. He isn’t ever gonna be an openly goopy and soft kinda guy but I’d like him to know that he doesn’t have to keep up his big bad hitman of Conote image all the time anymore.

Balthus: I don’t really have much wished or planned for him lmao like obviously he could stand to responsible himself up a little but other than that I’m fine with the current goofing off with occasional flashes of serious insight.

Beowolf: I’d like him to emotionally mature enough to actually confront and accept feelings he might not want to face (instead of walking off in the middle of convos to avoid them like before Belhalla lmao). To accept that forming attachments to people isn’t bad and that he’s a lot more sentimental than he likes to think.

Diarmuid: I’d like him to express himself more openly...he isn’t really one to show very strong emotional reactions, especially negative ones like fear, sadness, anger, etc.

Fergus: I also want him to realize that forming attachments to people isn’t bad and that he can actually trust people fully someday.

Fred: Not sure...maybe just pursuing more things he wants to do? I should probably develop his character more lmao rip.

Homer: I’d like to see his serious side a bit more, and more of him taking notes on their journey and spreading songs of it all over Jugdral. The idea that he keeps a sort of diary during their campaign is pretty funny.

Jamke: Just more interacting with others I guess. He’s kind of antisocial outside of the him-Dew-Edain trio but it is funny that those two can bring out a more childish, sarcastic, and playful side to him.

Lachesis: I guess for her to realize she can’t do everything herself? That she doesn’t have to constantly push herself to be the best and do everything to make up for past failures. And to be more adaptive/sensitive to other people’s wants/feelings.

Machyua: Not much to say here either other than I should develop her desires/motivations more lmao...maybe some more thoughts about why she didn’t become a knight, freedom VS security, etc.

Miranda: Yet another one I should develop more...I guess it’d be nice if she got some chances to just be a kid again without having to worry about all of Alster depending on her.

Oscar: I guess showing some stronger emotions beyond “polite”, “cheerful”, and “mildly concerned”? The scene with the brothers and Rolf’s mom was really good. Some brotherly bonding interactions would be nice 😔

Ranulf: Another muse I feel is already pretty well-adjusted to go along with Fred and Machyua...maybe more mentor-like moments with the young beorc.

Reinhardt: It would be nice if he could someday actually conceptualize of his past wrongdoings as being wrong in the first place :/ and develop his own sense of right and wrong and independent goals other than “what master says”.

Shannan: To stop blaming himself for what happened to Sigurd’s family and to start living for himself instead of to repay his perceived debt. Though I’m not sure that will happen completely with him being king of Isaach I’d at least like him to make some time to think about what he actually wants in life instead of what he “has” to do.

Sigurd: To learn to think more about the consequences of his actions and how they can affect others :/ He’ll always be impulsive but maybe with time he can at least learn to rein in his initial impulse and consider it a little bit or ask for some advice before acting.

Thor: To be more committed and decisive about their chosen path, not being so wishy-washy about how much they’re gonna support the cause they’ve already chosen to support.

Tibarn: 🤔 dunks him in the well-adjusted bin too. More interactions with other herons would be nice though. He’s so soft on all of them it’s so funny.

Zelgius: More exploration of how one person can be so upstanding one moment and then so cruel the next I guess. Two seemingly conflicting sides to a person is always interesting, especially when those sides start to overlap/aren’t as separate as they first appear.

[sayhwaet]

"Sore eyes, I'll bet – couldn't help but miss me, huh?" Beowolf teased, laughing with delight. "No kiddin', though, you and the whole family is here? Even yer kiddos? That's incredible Ethlyn - "  

To say nothing of the fact that she appeared not to have aged a day from the last time he'd seen her, leaving for their home of Leonster – how old were her children, to have come here with her? He couldn't have imagined that the Academy might have allowed for young toddlers, needing babysitting as the knights went about their dangerous duties. Especially from a family as well-to-do as the Leonster royal family... 

He shook his head to clear it, and peered down at her. "Coworkers, you make it sound so stuffy – I'm a merc, same as ever, and this place pays well, all things considered. But," his head tipped back into a guffaw, "Could you imagine someone like me as an instructor for one of these high-falutin' places? 'D be a different kinda education they'd be getting', I'll tell you that." 

He patted the horse's rump affectionately at Ethlyn's comment, and gestured to the great sack of letters he'd been given. "Sure you've heard of the mail issue. The kid kicked it, poor sod, but all'a this still needs deliverin'. I'm sure me an' this guy got it in us to make it to the next town over, at least – whaddya say, pal?" He called softly, patting the horse once more as he continued to prepare the horse for their journey, rewarded with a flick of its ears and tail, and a snuff of what he assumed was agreement. 

"It'll be rough goin', but we been promised a hot meal and a cold beer at the end of it, ain't we?" Reaching over, he looped the bridle over the horse's head, scritching it behind its ears as he did so. He knew, of course, that a hot meal wouldn't have been nearly sufficient payment for the dangerous conditions, but when they'd offered supplementary gold, Beowolf found that his skin crawled to think of accepting. 

Turning back to Ethlyn, he grinned. "Can't say I blame those that turned down the job, but here we are." 

One Pure, Selfless Act

[unlikely-rwby-aus]

Good Luck For The Bad Omens

(Dedicated to Cleo)

It started soon after the whole group had finished in Haven.

Qrow went to have a training session with Ruby, as they had been doing since he recovered from his poisoning. Mainly because Ruby wanted to be better at fighting around him, and despite his protests about her getting hurt, she showed unusual sharpness in her winning argument: as it was, fighting alongside him was dangerous, but it could both better her reflexes and intuition, and make her more used should a situation put them together in a battle.

'Heh, little scamp sure was good for a leader.'

A week before departing for Argus, Qrow was having another training session with Ruby. He went earlier to the training hall, a room filled with various equipment for all kinds of training, in order to get the placeready for a sparring fight. When he got there, Blake was already occupying it.

She was by herself, running and jumping from obstacle to obstacle in every way she could. Qrow recognized the training regime. It was aimed towards raising agility and sense of balance - perfect for her, he guessed. He used the same one in Beacon.

However, just as he entered, a wooden beam broke in two under Blake's foot.

Qrow made a grimace. There it was, his Semblance yet again hurting others. At least it was nothing serious this time. He could try and be a gentleman about it.

"You okay, kid?" Walking towards Blake, the alcoholic in him momentarily thought of offering her a drink as an apology. He decided against it, if only because he only had his flask on him.

Blake's reaction made him want to take a few swigs himself.

It wasn't a major thing. Her ears suddenly shot up, and she raised her head to look at him. Her bright amber eyes were a bit wider-opened than usual. Her muscles tensed a bit. It could've been just embarrassment from the graceless fall.

"Y-eah, I'm fine. Glad I don't have a tail as a Faunus feature." Her voice sounded stable enough, but Qrow couldn't miss the small note of... fear? Apprehension? The afformentioned embarrassment? He couldn't tell. It was justified, whatever she was feeling in that moment.

"Sorry about that, my Semblance acts up at the worst times."

"Your... Semblance?"

Ruby hadn't told her? Weird. Maybe she didn't find a good moment.

"My Semblance causes bad luck to happen around me. It activates on its own, though I can spike it up even more. Usually bad things happen when I'm around." He gave the regular spiel. It was the shortest h could get it without glossing over important details.

"Bad luck... people say black cats bring that. If you can't control it, don't apologize. It's not worth it to blame yourself for something you can't control."

Qrow immediately recognized those words. His sister, his brother-in-law and Summer had all said those exact lines.

Fate's decisions are not your fault.

Don't blame yourself for being born with a Semblance.

Don't apologise for something out of your control.

He had heard them enough times. Logically, he knew they were correct. On a deeper level he didn't believe them. They were wrong on one point - it was his fault. It was his Semblance and his responsibility. And the best he could do was warn those around him.

"Even so, sorry for the timing."

Blake looked at him for a second, as if considering something. Then she shook her head.

"Apology accepted, then. Do you need the room?"

"Yeah, me and Rub-"

Speak of the Beowolf, and it'll break down the doors to get to you. "Hey, Uncle Qrow, hey Blake!"

"Hi Ruby." Blake waved back at Ruby's enthusiasm.

"What's up, kid?"

"Yang dragged me along on a shopping trip earlier, so what do you say to skipping stretching and going at it today?" Ruby seemed excited. Maybe she wanted to show her uncle off to Blake?

Well, why not indulge her?

"...Just this time."

"Yes! Come on!"

The fight was a good one. Ruby was motivated, even more so than usual. Probably because Blake was watching.

At least, she had sat down to watch when they began. She was gone by the time they finished. And while he was concentrated on the fight, he was surprised he didn't detect her exiting.

She was probably worried about his Semblance. Good.

The next few days it continued on like that. Whenever possible, Blake would go into another room, or avoid eye contact.

It was a familiar scene - especially once someone felt the effects of his Semblance. He was used to it. Didn't hurt any less.

Then came the actual train ride.

There it was again. His bad luck, fucking everyone over.

Then his beliefs basically went down the drain. His trust was betrayed.

And again.

Then Brunswick Estate and the cart.

Once again.

He gave up, finding solace in the one friend that wouldn't leave - and it's siblings in the bar room.

Even in his drunken state, he could notice Blake escaping from his vicinity.

'Smart girl.' She had the right idea, with how he was gonna be.

Keep away, I just bring trouble.

He was glad there were no problems on the way to Argus. He still noticed how she was keeping her distance.

'She's even more insistent in keeping away than most.' It's why he was noticing. Most others didn't put this much effort into avoiding him.

He knew the lack of bad luck wouldn't last. But he was glad for it's lack while it lasted.

Then Oscar disappeared. He couldn't give a shit. He would sooner or later be Ozpin anyways, and Ozpin betrayed him. He was as good as gone to Qrow.

He felt the glares. He knew which was from Ruby, which was from Yang. The cold one was likely likely Schnee the Third.

He also felt feline eyes on him. He'd gotten used to it. She usually stared as she exited. Anger there was different.

Well, fuck it. Still angry at him, big deal in what way.

He didn't want to be in the house. Bar was nearby. Cheap. Did the trick.

Next he woke up, he was being hauled up the stairs. Probably didn't make it inside.

Fuck this headache. Fuck hangovers.

Another set of glares. They were the same as earlier. No, wait, one was now pity- and then it was gone. Kitty seemed disinterested this time.

Oscar was back. Guess the bar was a good idea, kept his bad luck away. He should consider leavin- no, Ruby still needed him. They all needed an adult. Ozpin was useless. The Cotta-Arcs weren't huntresses.

"We... steal an Atlas Bullhead?"

Qrow did not like that idea.

Too much risk.

And he'd be too close.

But they decided upon it. That was the chosen plan.

Gods, Ruby seemed so grown-up. When did she manage it? Was what he told her about the milk helping her grow true in more ways than one?

Whatever it was, she was now an adult. Or at least, about as mature as one could get.

'She'll not need me anymore.'

Just this last effort. He could help her one last tim-

He shouldn't have. He should've disappeared as soon as possible. Now even Blake was caught by his bad luck.

FUCKING AGAI-

...

"...When did you grow up so good?"

"I had a great mentor."

He had to get himself up. He made this mess. He was gonna help fix it.

Blake and Yang were back. Thank the twins.

They were allowed passage. His Semblance was taking a break.

So Blake and Yang ran into Adam Taurus. He'd been after them from the beginning. He didn't notice him.

'Gods, I'm really useless. I need to cut the drinks.'

His bad luck had gone into overdrive. Just for Blake. She lost her weapon. She was put through her whole past. Almost watched Yang get killed.

Gods, she had taken a life. He had really fucked her up with his bad luck.

And she seemed to realise it. She stood the farthest she could from him in the small space of the Bullhead.

Then they got caught in Mantle.

For fuck's sake, I did it again-

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

It started soon after the whole group had finished in Haven.

Blake was going through her training routine. She was dealing with it well. The recent victories left her feeling calm.

She finally dealt with Adam. He wouldn't bother her anymore. Not for a long while at least.

She heard footsteps. Someone probably wanted to use the training equipment.

She was at the end anyways. Just the last beam-

She yelped as it separated into two under her. She fell on her bottom, but she was practically untouched. Maybe aside from her pride.

"You okay, kid?"

She froze up, then relaxed. Same words. Different person. She recognized Qrow's voice.

"Y-eah, I'm fine. Glad I don't have a tail as a Faunus feature." She mentally slapped herself. She didn't relax fast enough. Play it off as embarrassment-

"Sorry about that, my Semblance acts up at the worst times."

Her ears perked up. What was his Semblance again?

"Your... Semblance?"

He looked a bit surprised she didn't know. Was it common knowledge? He was a famous Huntsman. Maybe it was? She didn't follow on the gossip of famous Huntsmen.

"My Semblance causes bad luck to happen around me. It activates on its own, though I can spike it up even more. Usually bad things happen when I'm around." The explanation sounded trained. He likely explained it often.

"Bad luck... people say black cats bring that. If you can't control it, don't apologize. It's not worth it to blame yourself for something you can't control." She recited one of the many stereotypes she was given. Then she recited what she told herself.

His actions are not your fault.

Don't blame yourself for not stopping him.

Don't apologise for Adam.

She had said them enough times. Logically, she knew they were correct. On a deeper level she didn't believe them. They were wrong on one point - it was her responsibility. She knew what he was like, but she helped him. She didn't stop him. She wasn't strong enough to defeat him. And the best she could do now was warn those around her of what he was capable of.

"Even so, sorry for the timing."

Blake looked at the older man again. The earlier impression of Adam faded more. Adam never apologised. Qrow was looking for a way to blame himself.

"Apology accepted, then. Do you need the room?"

"Yeah, me and Ruby-"

Speak of the Beowolf and it'll break your door down. "Hey, Uncle Qrow! Hey Blake!"

"Hi Ruby." Blake waved back at Ruby's enthusiasm.

"What's up, kid?"

"Yang dragged me along on a shopping trip earlier, so what do you say to skipping stretching and going at it today?" Ruby seemed excited. Maybe she wanted to show her uncle off to Blake?

Well, she probably had a lot to show off.

"...Just this once."

"Yes! Come on!"

The fight left her shaken.

Qrow fought like Adam. They were too similar. The image faded back more clearly over him. She left soon after. Once she saw the Aura strike, it was too much for her.

Whenever she looked at Qrow after that, it was Adam she saw. Sometimes she didn't need to look at the veteran Huntsman to see Adam. Between the train carts, he faded into existence for a second. He looked different. He didn't wear his mask.

'That's my ribbon.'

Then she saw him outside the shed at Brunswick Farm.

'He's not there.'

Then Qrow started drinking. She couldn't remember ever seeing Adam drink. She could remember him grinning weirdly despite the state of some gruesome situations.

She continued avoiding Qrow and not looking at him.

Once they could move, she tried not too look at Qrow.

Then Oscar disappeared and everyone got worried. Qrow didn't care. She saw Adam again. He didn't care about the White Fang.

She saw him again later, asleep on the stairs. She couldn't see Adam in that state. She only felt pity. Recent events resurfaced the image over Qrow again. She looked away.

Then Oscar was back. She momentarily forgot about the veteran Huntsman.

"We... steal an Atlas Bullhead...?"

Blake thought she was hallucinating again.

Qrow argued. She looked at him again. She saw Adam, arguing over logistics.

They chose that plan.

Qrow looked at Ruby. Blake recognised the look as the one her father gave her many times back at Menagerie. A look of "She's grown so much".

The image of Adam paled out just a little bit.

Then it became all too real at the comm tower.

He's after me and the others. He'll destroy everything I love.

Then she felt her blade sink into his heart.

She killed him. It was over. He wasn't going to threaten her again.

The others were safe.

They were allowed passage.

Relief washed over her like a hot shower.

She still kept her distance from Qrow. She could still see, hear, smell, feel Adam over him. She had just killed him, and yet he was still influencing her.

Mantle gave her other worries. She remembered she was still a Faunus.

It's not my fault-

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

Qrow couldn't quite believe their current situation. Working with the AceOps in an old Dust mine. Great.

Wonder how long till my Semblnace makes it all collapse-

Not long enough. Sentries caused a collapse.

Fucking again-

"This is my fault. Me and my stupid Semblance. Again."

Ruby and the others were alright. On the other side of a collapsed tunnel.

He was stuck with Blake. The girl so unnerved by his bad luck Semblance she made sure to avoid him whenever she could.

She was doomed, and it was all his fault.

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

Blake couldn't comprehend the situation. Working with the AceOps in an old Dust mine. She could feel the negativity of the Faunus workers. She hoped the Grimm would be too occupied with the old negativity to feel her ow-

Then she saw a tail. A cut off one.

Another victim-

Her negative emotions beat the ones in the mines. Sentries caused a collapse.

"No, it's mine. If I had kept my emotions in check-"

I was too weak again-

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

"What are ya talking about? There's no way you can cause enough negativity to beat that of these caves."

Me and my damn Semblance-

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

"You're Semblance isn't to blame for everything bad that happens, it's my incompetence that attracted the Grimm to us."

If I was only stronger-

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

"Your "incompetence" boils down to you caring about people you've literally met only partially-

Bad choice of words-

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

"...Was that an attempt at a pun? Yang would punch you for that one."

Joking at a time like this, what was she doing-

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

"A friendly punch to the arm, probably. She loves those. Should've been a better a better uncle."

But I'm doing my best by being away with small visits, they're safer that way-

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

"She did. Haven't heard her make one since she lost her arm."

She lost it because of me-

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

"Nah, she was not too serious before you came back. She arm wrestled with it and joked around about "vibration functions"."

She grew up fine-

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

"...Heh. Wouldn't be surprised if she added suck a thing. She always looked for a way to make me laugh."

I'm always in a bad mood-

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

"She's lucky to have someone as caring as you as a partner. Good thing my Semblance didn't affect her there."

Definitely didn't help her at the Fall-

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

"No, she isn't. She deserves someone stronger. She's lucky to have such a nice uncle, not a partner like me."

I'm just dead weight half the time-

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

"I'm a bad luck charm. She'd be luckier without me-"

"There it is again!"

"What?"

"You're blaming your Semblance for everything bad in the universe! Would she really be luckier without you when she went out to search for her mother?"

"...So she told you that story? She was only six then, so I was practically forced to watch over her. Now, though? She's better off without me. Maybe she'll keep all her limbs by the end of this. Woth you by her side it's practically guaranteed. She trusts you a lot."

"...She shouldn't. I've always let people down. Running away was just one way I did so. I had one job - don't attract the Grimm. Should've been easy here, and I still managed to fail at it. I'm just gonna get us all killed-"

"If you're this worried about it you're already well on your way to never do it. Unlike me. The only way they'll all be safe is without me around-"

"Now you're just saying what I was thinking when I ran after the Fall of Beacon. Let me tell you what I learned in that time - these people care about you. Disappearing will only hurt them further. They'll be in danger anyways with their career choice, so you got to be there for them to help protect them."

Qrow watched her for a few seconds.

Then he gave a small smile and looked away.

"You say that, but you don't believe it."

"I do-"

"The way you've been avoiding me ever since I told you my Semblance speaks otherwise."

Blake quieted down.

"I know you're trying to make me feel better. But you're avoiding me, keeping away so you're not hit by my Semblance. But you did get hit. You're ex decided to attack you. So long as I'm around, this is just gonna keep happening. What's next? Your ears get cut of-"

"STOP IT!"

Qrow was rarely yelled at. It was a good method to shit him up.

"What Adam did was his choice. His intent. It has nothing to do with your Semblance! And I'm not avoiding you-"

"You're not exactly sneaky enough. I could feel you staring. You were always watching my movements if you had to stay in the same room. How is that not avoiding me?"

"...Your Semblance isn't why I was avoiding you. You reminded me too much of him."

Qrow took a few seconds to realize who she was talking.

"...I've been called many things, but that's a first. How exactly am I Adam Taurus?"

"...It was your fighting style at first. He used the same spins, a similar shooting pose, you have a similar build, a similar hairstyle. Your grin when you're drunk is the same one he had when he was fighting."

"...Fair enough. Didn't expect to add "look like an abusive ex" to the long list of reasons to disappear, but it's a good one-"

"...What?"

"I'm a danger to my nieces. I'm in no good relations with Miss Schnee the Second, and according to Yang, my drinking habits are like Missus Schnee so I'm winning no points with Weiss. Jaune has never liked me, probably has his reasons, and his teammates follow after him with almost no question so they're wary of me as well. I can't look at Oscar without seeing Ozpin, and I don't want anything to do with that old bastard anymore. The Grimm Reaper might be the only person capable of living with my bullshit, but she's the minority. And now I'm over here looking like the person who singlehandedly fucked your perception of the world and yourself. All in all, compelling arguments for a Grimm to take me right now."

Blake was speechless. He had an excuse to leave everyone behind. Always for their own good.

"...I said I saw a resemblance at first."

His hair lost any indication of red, showing his feather-like 'do.

"But the more time passed, the more differences I saw. You're nothing like Adam."

Eyes went from blueish to a bright pastel pink, and the shadow of a scar disappeared.

"You're careful, consider others safety before your own and care for those close to you. Adam always put himself and his goals first."

The soft facial features were replaced with more rugged lines, clean-shaven skin replaced with a stubble.

"You do everything you do because you believed it would save people, even when that left you apart from your family for months. Adam only pretended to care about the Faunus' well-being, while he really only cared about killing off humans."

Black clothes were replaced by white and grey, slim body frame replaced by broad shoulders.

"You take the blame for everything and are ready to take what you believe would be your just desserts. Adam never apologised for anything he did and always ran from responcibility."

Qrow kept looking at Blake, somehow compelled to let her finish her spiel. Let it all out.

"I used to see some of Adam's looks in you. Now I see an uncle concerned first and foremost with his nieces' well-being. I saw Adam's animalistic fighting style, but I've come to see a beautiful dance in how you wield your blade. Where Adam killed for pleasure, you protect those you care about. Where Adam was nothing but spite, you never let your past break you. Where Adam took strength from others kneeling, you take strength from others standing tall."

Now Qrow was just looking at her with wide eyes. Very few have tried and succeeded in making him see his good sides. None had used (good) comparisons.

"Adam manipulated people into doing his bidding. You do the right thing, and people sincerely like you exactly for that. People love you exactly for that."

[ask-the-cordium-crew]

Holidays with the Kahn and Colonel (A WKTC holiday story)

William was outside in the forest with his beowolf Fluffy soon enough. He gasped and shouted, “BULLY!!!” 

He looked up and saw the perfect sized pine tree he soon whistled loudly. Fluffy growled loudly before raising his claw and cutting the tree down. William then got his axe and chopped off the extra bits sure Fluffy could cut the tree, but still, some need to be trimmed off.

He wasn’t perfect at cutting things in the right places unless those places were enemies of William and atlas.

“Ah, wonderful job Fluffy mind picking it up for me chap?” the big beowolf nodded gently before grabbing onto the tree and carrying it over his shoulders careful not to stab it with his spikes. Hence, it wasn’t too damaged. The two then headed towards a large home, and Will knocked on the door, smiling gently. The tiger faunus kicked the door open, causing William to stumble back.

While he was trying to regain his balance Sienna pounced on top of him soon on her knees while on top of his chest “got you~” she said while smirking William chuckled and then wrapped his arms around her before pushing her into the snow before smirking himself “no-no dear I GOT YOU! Ha, ha.”

She pushed him off him and then shook the snow off her self before helping him up. “Oh, William, you never stop surprising me. That's why I like it.” 

William spun around with his arms out while he spun around to get the snow off himself he grabbed onto her she looked surprised as they both spun around and did the tango.

William even had a tiger rose in his mouth. His aura stopped his mouth from bleeding after this, he spun her into the open door and made her spin right into a chair sitting her down. 

“OH, AND YOU NEVER DISAPPOINT ME MY FEISTY TIGER! ANYWAY ahem, Fluffy get in here and put the tree in the corner I'll set it up” Fluffy went inside the house ducking to avoid hurting himself, and after he put the tree in the corner he went up and closed the door and sat down next to it panting gently Sienna sighed gently.

“Must you bring that thing here? I know he’s your pet, but still, it unnerves me to see a beowolf even if I know it’s yours” in response to this fluffy gave her the finger she then gasped surprised. 

“Oh, will you two get along? it’s Christmas, and also, I needed his help getting the Christmas tree and well, you know the deal every second Christmas one of my Grimm get to stay with Fluffy and us we don’t do that to people we only give those type of jesters to Jacques Schnee.”

Fluffy and Sienna both rolled their eyes and crossed their arms “Fine William he can stay and oh I totally agree, but I'd rather break that mans back then just simply tell him to fuck off speaking of that how did fluffy learn how to do that?” she turned her head confused.

William was also confused looking at Fluffy and turned his head “not sure actually I blame Qrow brawnwen, but it could also be that fluffy hates Ironwood so much that he learned it himself” she laughed gently “Ok well that is a little funny a beowolf hating someone so much it teaches itself to tell people to fuck themselves.”

William soon got to set up the Christmas tree putting it into a stand, placing a mat under it and put on decorations. Instead, of an angel on top, it was some custom made figurine of him and her hugging while having halos above their heads after he was finished with the tree she hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

“It looks wonderful, William. I am so glad we can spend Christmas together it’s the one time of year we don’t need to worry about either of our factions finding out about us since they are too busy with their own families.”

William smiled and kissed her in return before holding her close.

“One day, we won’t need to hide. Do not worry, my tigar goddess” she rolled her eyes and slapped him but playfully “alright now, don’t be a suck-up now. What are we having for Christmas dinner?” William rubbed his chin gently, then smirked his eyes sparkling “TURDUCKEN!” She rolled her eyes and smiled “I had a feeling you would say that thankfully I had 2 of each bird we’d need.” 

William kissed her on the cheek before running to the kitchen, “OH YOU KNOW ME SO WELL KITTEN!” 

Time skip.

After about 3 hours of hard cooking, they both were at the table next to the tree eating together. William then threw a whole turkey at fluffy, who ripped it to shreds and ate it roaring loudly. 

“He doesn't need to eat the doesn't even taste the food he just likes doing it” William giggled softly soon after a little bit of time they were finished eating. William gave Sienna her Christmas gift she opened it and smirked, “oh claw sharpeners just what I wanted to thank you, don’t worry I got you something too.” 

He turned his head confused she then gave him a box he ripped it open and gasped his eyes filled with stars “A BOX OF 6 FIRE DUST CRYSTALS AND SOME DIAMOND BULLET CASINGS YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE DEAR! oh, whoever messes with me is gonna be in so much pain when I use these bad boys bully indeed!”

He then grabbed onto one of the crystals and started to crunch it. “Oooh theirs some yellow dust mixed in lovely! just be glad it ain’t gravity dust that gives me gas,” he snickered, and she groaned “gross William.” 

She then turned to Fluffy and threw a box in his direction “I even got something for you” the beowolf ripped it to bits and then put on what was inside a Christmas hat saying ‘Christmas Pupper’ on it William then took a picture of Fluffy 

“OH MY GOD, THAT'S ADORABLE. I AM SO HANGING THIS PICTURE ON MY WALL!” he then sighed, “Thank you, dear, but you didn’t need to do that.” 

“Oh nonsense William, of course, I did I know you were gonna bring fluffy I know this is only our fourth Christmas together but I know which of your Grimm you love the most” “now-now Sienna dear I don’t pick favourites between my Grimm!” she then looked at him with a look saying ‘really?” “OK, FINE Fluffy is my favourite, but don’t tell the other three, especially peanut.”  

she then stuck her tongue out at him “fine, I won’t, but I pick the Christmas movie nothing by your brother” William whined, “AWW BUT HIS HOLIDAY MOVIES ARE BOTH DIRTY AND FUNNY!” She sighed gently, “I know you like them, but we both know your brother isn’t the biggest fan of faunus.” 

He groaned but nodded, “I know to trust me, I do. I don’t understand why I mean we were pretty much raised our whole lives by a deer faunus, but let's not worry about it.”

she then purred softly biting his neck before pushing him down “oh don’t worry I’ll sweeten the deal I’ve been feeling a bit stressed we can have a little fun in the bedroom after the movie~” she licked her lips 

William was utterly dense “OH sure I’d love to give you a Christmas spa treatment!” she just face pammed herself “not what I meant William, but that's fine to” 

They then got up and went to cuddle on the couch watching Christmas movies for most of the night each of their Christmases was a little different each year. Still, the two were happy, and that's all that mattered. She felt comfortable near him. She was allowed to be vulnerable, and it’s because of him, she had any faith in humankind. There were a lot of anti faunus people out there.

Before she met him, she hated all of mankind. She was no better than Adam Taurus, but after she met him, she had a bit more respect for humanity and was more bent on making sure they had equal rights he helped her be a better person, and she helped him stay sane and happy.   

Too bad, it wouldn’t be like this forever. They only had two more Christmases together after this.

[castleofwarriorswrites]

You Won The Battle, You Won’t Win The War

Fandom: RWBY

Length: 3500 words.

Relationships: Blake Belladonna/Yang Xiao Long

It’s been absolutely forever since I wrote a fic, so please, have some canon-compliant Bumblebee.

Yang’s arm hurt.

She supposed that wasn’t surprising. The doctor had told her there would be phantom pains, her brain trying to feel a limb that wasn’t there. She’d nodded, only half-listening, the events of that night replaying in her head over and over. The dull ache of being disqualified. The fear that she couldn’t trust her own sanity anymore. Wondering if she would see things again, but next time... she’d envisioned her gauntlets firing into Weiss, or Ruby, or Bl—but her brain shut down screaming at the thought of hurting any of her teammates, and the dull ache came back.

Then it had happened. She’d seen it happen. Penny had faced off against Pyrrha, and... thinking about either of them hurt too much. The idea that they were gone, that she would never see them again, ached as badly as her arm. Penny had been Ruby’s friend more than hers, but for all the girl had been weird, she’d never been dangerous, and had always been sweet and friendly. To find out that she was a robot the whole time was less of a shock than the visceral sight of cables being sliced in half, the life fading from her eyes as lenses spiralled shut.

As for Pyrrha, Team JNPR had been as close to her as her own team. Her brain still refused to comprehend that Pyrrha – strong, confident, powerful Pyrrha – had been murdered, dying in a battle she could never win, facing that woman – Cinder – in single combat.

Of course, Yang hadn’t seen that happen. She’d run out, looking for Ruby, trying to protect as many people as possible when the Grimm came. She’d found Weiss, looking exhausted, who told her that Blake – even thinking about her made Yang’s remaining arm tremble – had gone after a Beowolf Alpha. Yang hadn’t hesitated to follow her partner’s trail, and that’s where it had happened.

She’d looked through the shattered window of the cafeteria and seen him. She saw him stab Blake – her Blake – through the stomach, seen the burning red glow on his mask, just like those eyes so long ago. She remembered the all-consuming rage and terror that had sent her flying at him, screaming. She remembered that glowing mask, a flash of red, then nothing.

When she’d awoke, her arm had hurt. She’d been sitting in a hospital bed, hearing shouting from outside her door. She’d recognized Weiss’s voice, and an older man. Then there had been nothing. She didn’t know where Ruby was, she didn’t know where Blake was, and she didn’t know what was going on. She saw Uncle Qrow enter and lay an unconscious Ruby in the bed next to her. She’d tried to ask him what was happening, but he’d already left.

The next person she’d seen was Sun, and he told her the worst news yet: Blake – her Blake, her partner, the girl she’d danced with at the ball, the girl she’d helped to pull from the shadows – had ran. Nobody had made her. Nobody had dragged her home unwillingly, like Weiss.

She’d left, and Yang was alone.

Now, she lay in bed at home, staring out the window. Ruby had left too, gone with the shattered remnants of Team JNPR to find answers for what happened that night. Everything was gone – her team, her school, her friends – and her.

Yang was alone.

~~~

Blake’s stomach hurt.

It was all her fault, all of it. Adam had come for her, and he’d destroyed everything. Just when Blake had thought she’d be able to be free of her past, it had come along in a maelstrom of black and red and ruined it all – and it was her fault, she knew it.

She remembered that night. Seeing Yang attack that boy, Mercury, seemingly unprovoked, had instantly reminded her of him – all the deaths, first accidents, then self-defence, then it was for the cause, and finally it was revenge. She saw the spiral beginning again – but Yang wasn’t Adam. She’d trust her. Something else was at play.

Then it had happened. She’d seen Pyrrha rip Penny apart, seen the horror on her face as she did it, and she knew – this was the White Fang at work. She’d cursed herself for getting complacent. Just because Torchwick was in jail didn’t mean the White Fang was gone. He’d never been a part of the group anyway, just one of Cinder’s lackeys. She saw the Grimm swarming to the school, and she’d known that it was time to act. She and Weiss had run to the courtyard, but there was too much going on at once – they’d had to split up. She’d chased after an Alpha Beowolf, and had seen the White Fang grunts attacking the students.

It had never dawned on her that he’d be there, until she found herself face to face with him.

It was her fault. If she’d done more, if she’d recognized what he was sooner, if she hadn’t been trying to distance herself from even thinking of him, maybe she could have stopped it.

They’d fought.

He’d stabbed her.

Yang – her Yang, her partner, the girl she’d danced with at the ball, the girl who had saved her from destroying herself – had tried to save her, and had lost her arm.

And it was all her fault.

She’d lain there, beside the unconscious Yang, the bandages around her stomach seeping with blood as she’d apologized over and over. Then she’d found out that Pyrrha was dead, too – and she knew, again, it was her fault.

When she could finally walk, she did the only thing she could think to do.

She ran.

They were better off without her. Adam had made it his mission to destroy everything she loved – so maybe if she stayed away, he would too.

Maybe it was just better for her to be alone.

Now, as she stood on the deck of the ferry, staring out over the endless ocean, she felt the regret tugging at her heart, but she shook it away. She’d brought them nothing but pain. She didn’t deserve to be with them. She didn’t deserve to be with her.

And now Blake was alone.

~~~

Yang sat on the bed, staring down at The Photograph – a picture of Team RWBY, back when they’d still thought they had a future – with dark thoughts running through her mind. Why would she want Blake there? She’d abandoned her. Why would she ever want to see her again? Ruby didn’t know what she was talking about.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. She didn’t look up, quickly stowing The Photograph away. “Yeah?” The door creaked open, and she suppressed a sigh. Speak of the devil, and she will appear. “Look, Ruby, I really don't want to talk about it, OK? Can you just leave me alone for a bit?” But when she looked up, it wasn’t Ruby.

It was Weiss. Yang loved her like family, of course, but she was the last person she expected to come knocking on her door. “Oh. Hey, Weiss. Did you need something?” Weiss didn’t reply, instead just sitting on the bed opposite her.

Oh, god. She was going to try and feelings her. Yang wasn’t in the mood to talk about it with anyone, but something about Weiss’s presence just rubbed her the wrong way. Why was she here? Yang chose her words very carefully, and sighed. “I know she's our teammate, but I'm not just going to change my mind. I'm sorry, I just... I don't think you know what it's like to be left. You have a giant family, recitals to perform at, dinners to attend. I didn't have any of that. My mom left me. Ruby's mom left too. Tai was always busy with school and Ruby couldn't even talk yet. I had to pick up the pieces. I had to keep things together. Alone.”

Weiss didn’t speak. Yang felt the fire rising in her throat. This silent treatment was starting to really get on her nerves. “Weiss, if you have something to say, then say it.”

And finally, the heiress spoke. “When I was ten, my dad finally admitted to my mom that the only reason he married her was for the family name.”

Oh, god.

“It was actually on my birthday. He missed the big dinner, she got mad, he finally snapped. I think she already knew. Looking back, I think I knew too. But hearing him say it finally pushed her over the edge.”

Abort mission, Yang. ABORT.

“First it was separate lunches and dinners, opposite balconies at my recitals, a glass of wine here, a glass of wine there. Then, it was no dinners, no recitals, a bottle of wine here and... well, you get the idea.”

Yang wasn’t sure where she was going with this, but she instantly realized she had Weiss all wrong. “I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have assumed.”

Weiss just smiled softly. “You're right, though. I don't know loneliness like you do. I have my own version. And, I'll bet Blake has her own version too.”

Aaand there it was. Yang couldn’t stop herself from blurting it out. “She doesn't have to be alone, though. I was here for her. We all were! She chose to leave us.”

Weiss’s eyes were nothing but patience. “Why do you think she did that?”

Wuh?

“The entire time Blake was at Beacon, she was afraid to open up to people. She tried to keep her past separated from us. She tried to protect us. Eventually, those walls she put up came down. And the moment they did, the one thing she was afraid of actually happened. The universe proved her right.”

Yang didn’t want to hear anymore, but she knew, somewhere in her gut, that she couldn’t stop now – it was as if a hot spike shoved deep into her forehead was halfway out; if she stopped now, it would settle back in and continue to hurt her. “No one blamed her for anything! If she had just talked to us, she would've known that! How could I be there for her if she doesn't let me?”

Yang took a deep breath. She could feel tears forming in her eyes, and she knew she had no choice but to say it.

“What if I needed her here for me?”

She buried her face in her hands, her whole body shaking – until a delicate hand rested on her shoulder.

“I know it's not easy. I wish she hadn't left too. The only thing we can do now is be there for her when she's ready. When she comes back.”

When? That was awfully optimistic of her. Yang tried to contrast this Weiss with the stubborn, angry figure who’d butted heads with everyone at Beacon. What had happened to her up in Atlas? Doubt and fear clawed at Yang’s stomach, and she slowly lowered her hands. “If she comes back.”

“She will.” Weiss took a deep breath, as though preparing for something, working up the courage to speak, and Yang once more saw the image of her gauntlets tearing unknowingly-- but that wasn’t allowed. She forced the silent fear down, and listened.

“Yang... you, Ruby, and even Blake are more like family to me than my brother or even my own father. I would do anything for you three – and I'm willing to bet Blake feels the same way. So, when she's ready, I'll be there for her. And I know we're not as close, but... I'm here for you too.”

Yang let the words fill her, the spike of anger draining out of her. She felt empty, drained – in a good way. With the resentment she’d carried since the Fall draining out of her, maybe there would be room for better things now. The door creaked open again, and Ruby tentatively peeked her head in. “Is, uh... everything OK?”

Yang breathed. She wasn’t alone. She had people who cared about her, and she knew that she could never hurt them.

“Yeah, it is.”

~~~

It had happened again.

Blake cursed herself endlessly. Why had she let Sun follow her? Why had she led him straight to her home? Why had she let him face Ilia? Now he was hurt, and it was her fault. Always her fault.

Sun opened his eyes, groaning, the bandage on his shoulder soaked in blood. “Blake?”

Blake glared at him. She knew it wasn’t fair to him, she knew he was confused, but she couldn’t stop the words from forcing themselves out of her throat. “This is why, Sun. This is why I left them all behind.”

Sun sat up, still groggy. “What are you... wait, where am I?”

Blake ignored his confusion, as part of her screamed at the rest of her to stop talking, to at least let him get his bearings.

The rest of her did not oblige. “I am done seeing my friends hurt because of me.”

“Blake...”

“Shut up!”

She wasn’t going to let him interrupt, not now, her anger was running to hot, her hurt too close to the surface. “Do you think I like being alone? Every day... every day I think about them! Ruby, Weiss... Yang... they were my friends! I loved them like I never thought I could love anybody. And I hope they hate me for leaving.”

Sun reached out an entreating hand, apparently having regained enough lucidity to realize what was going on. “You don’t mean that.”

Blake rounded on him, furious. “Yes, I do!” He drew his hand back, wincing. Blake’s head ached with shame and guilt as she buried her face in her hands. “Everyone thinks they can help me, but they can't. You saw Ilia last night, and she's not even the worst! No. No more. They're better off without me. I made my choices, and I'll deal with the consequences, because they belong to me.”

Sun narrowed his eyes. Blake braced herself for him to leave, too. She told herself it was better that way. He would be safer without her. Any minute, he’d get up and leave, or tell her to leave, and he would be safe...

“You think you're being selfless, but you're not. Yeah, that chameleon friend of yours got me pretty good. But I'd do it all again if it meant protecting you.”

What?

“And I can promise Yang would say the same.”

What?

“You can make your own choices, sure. But you don't get to make ours. When your friends fight for you, it's because we want to. So stop pushing us out! It hurts more than anything the bad guys could ever do to us.”

Oh, god.

Was that what she’d done?

Had she been so desperate to protect them that she’d hurt the people she cared about most?

She stared down at her hands, and suddenly saw herself from the outside – alone and friendless, pushing away any who get close, hurting the people she cared about.

“Just like how you hurt Sun?”, she thought, remembering the moments leading up to the confrontation with Ilia, the way she’d hit him with so much venom and resentment.

Sun’s voice jolted her out of her reverie. “But, if it makes you feel any better, the next time I go up against Lizard Girl, it won't be for you - it'll be to get even.”

Blake realized she was smiling. He’d gotten hurt, true, but he was still standing beside her – still willing to fight. And if Sun was willing to go that far for a friend – how far would her partner be willing to go for her? Suddenly she felt like she could fly. What had she been thinking? She needed her friends just like they needed her. She let out a laugh, and turned to her friend.

“My hero.”

~~~

Yang was exhausted.

She didn’t know what had happened, but when she’d arrived at the vault, Cinder was gone, Vernal was dead – and Raven was there. They’d talked – nearly fought – and Raven had fled, leaving the Relic to Yang. Her heart ached from the truth of her mother – a coward, a liar, and a murderer. Now she had to return to the rest of the world and deal with the fallout. As she made her way down the steps, Uncle Qrow turned to her, his face a mask of concern.

Qrow. Her mother’s brother. She’d always trusted him growing up, only to learn that he worked directly for Ozpin – and Ozpin had lied to them. She wasn’t sure how she felt about Qrow now, and she was too exhausted to formulate it. He frowned. “What happened?”

Yang shook herself. “I don’t know, exactly. When I got down there, Cinder was gone, and Vernal was dead.”

“And Raven?”

Yang knew the question was coming, but it still shook her. She weighed her words carefully. Raven was the Spring Maiden. She had murdered the former Spring Maiden to gain that power. Raven was also a coward, a manipulator – and her mom. Should she keep her secret? Or should she tell Qrow everything? Just thinking about what had happened below gave her another wave of exhaustion, tears approaching her eyes. So she gave the shortest answer she could. It wasn’t technically a lie, just not the whole truth. Just like Qrow and Ozpin had given to her. If they weren’t going to spill their secrets, she wasn’t going to spill hers.

“Gone.”

Qrow’s expression softened, and he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Well, we’re all glad you’re still here, firecracker.”

Apparently Ruby was even more exhausted than Yang, because she chose that moment to collapse, Weiss quickly catching her. “Are you OK?” Ruby smiled tiredly. “I feel like I should be asking you guys.”

Then, with all the tact and nuance of a Boarbatusk, Ruby addressed the Goliath in the room. “So, Blake, what are you doing here?”

Blake. Yang’s partner, the girl she’d danced with, the girl who had ran and left her alone – the girl she loved with all her heart – smiled nervously. “I was going to ask you three the same thing.”

Ruby cracked a grin. “That’s... a looooong story.”

And Blake, nervous, shy, hands shaking, spoke the five words that Yang had wanted to hear for a long time.

“Well, I’m not going anywhere...”

Ruby sighed happily. “That’s all that matters. That we’re all here together. Right?”

She looked to Yang, and Yang realized that Ruby was more tactful than she let on. In that moment, her exhaustion didn’t leave her, but she felt braced, sustained. She smiled up at Blake.

“Yeah.”

~~~

It was Blake’s worst nightmare, come to life. Adam had found her again, and this time, he was determined to destroy her. By all rights, she should have been terrified – but all she felt was fire.

Yang was beside her. At long last. As Adam raved, the two of them focused all of their attention on the rhythm of combat – at long last, Blake saw Adam for what he was: A boy who’d lost his way, and nothing more. But he would never let up, not as long as he lived. Blake and Yang both knew the anger he carried – resentment, bitter loneliness, spite – but it did not control them as it did him. They had each other, and they knew that Adam, for all his power, was truly alone. The words he spoke were poison, both to himself and those around him. As he charged for Blake’s broken weapon, Blake and Yang’s eyes locked, and they both knew.

It was quick. The two blades pierced him, tearing through his body and soaking them in his blood. For the first time, Adam was speechless.

“Oh.”

Then he fell. Blake should have been elated, should have been overjoyed – but now that he was gone, his words began to worm into her. Did Yang really think she was going to leave again? She’d tried so hard to make up for what she’d done, but Yang hadn’t seemed to want it, and she didn’t know what to do. So she fell to her knees, sobbing, the fear that had been held at bay crushing over her – and then Yang was there, kneeling across from her. Blake wrapped her arms around her, and spoke the words she knew she had to say – she couldn’t stop now, or she would never be healed.

“I... I’m not gonna break my promise. I swear!”

Yang held her, and let the last vestiges of her resentment wash away – the two of them were partners. They would be together through thick and thin, not as protector and protected, but as equals, protecting each other. She cupped Blake’s face, and was suddenly struck by that moment from that night, where Blake had chosen to trust Yang – chosen to have faith that she wouldn’t be like Adam. So now, Yang chose to trust Blake. She chose to have faith.

“I know you won’t.”

[fire-the-headcanons]

Follow the Beacon Raven—The Strong Live

[Link to Masterpost]

[TW: graphic depictions of violence, blood, abuse, underage drinking, medical trauma, drug use, mortal terror. It's less intense than the last one but there's still a TLDR at the end]

“Drink,” Vanta spat, almost throwing the wineskin at her—it nearly fell through Raven’s shaking hands, but she managed to open it.

The rest of the tribe surrounded them, passing around whiskey and moonshine to drown their fear and anger and bloodlust, mask their scent from the Grimm. Bandits had learned how to make sure the monsters drawn in by a raid didn’t follow them out again a long time ago.

Raven couldn’t afford that kind of calm. One of her anchors was dead, another dying, and the last looked angry enough to kill her. She pretended to take a large gulp of the liquor before passing it back, watching silent and wary as Vanta took her turn.

Qrow’s connection itched. He was badly hurt, but it hadn’t snapped yet—she knew how that would feel now. He’d never make it to camp on his own in that state, she had to get Vanta too drunk to stop her from helping him.

“I warned him,” Vanta hissed, handing the skin to her again. “I told him we should have wrung the little wretch’s neck if he didn’t learn to turn it off. We should have been free of him years ago!” Raven said nothing and feigned another drink, ready to run if she turned on her too.

“Now look at us.” Vanta twisted with a glare and Raven’s heart jumped into her throat—but she was only offering the liquor back again. “You’re better off without him.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Loud enough to hear, quiet enough to ignore.

By the time they reached camp, the wineskin was empty and Vanta was struggling to stay upright. Smoke still poured into the sky from the distant town, possibly the remains of Grimm slain by the survivors but more likely from the fires of the battle.

The link almost burned as they staggered through the gate and she had to grit her teeth against the near irresistible pull. He didn’t have much time. Finally, finally, they made it to the tent and Raven dumped the semi-conscious Vanta on her bedroll.

Outside, the revelry had begun, sending her dodging behind tents and hugging the makeshift wall to avoid the others. She only strayed from the fringes to grab another skin of moonshine and a vial of poppy. Everything reeked of blood and smoke and booze, and in the center of camp a half-dozen people were singing badly.

The tent she shared with Qrow did nothing to block out the sound but it still felt safer than anywhere else. Their connection seared now, like fire licking at the rear of her mind—when she finally tugged on the thread, the relief was just as intense. The portal spun into existence and she leapt through back into the burning village.

Qrow lay in the mud at her feet, wheezing with his eyes half-closed. A Beowolf licked the blood from his shoulder, ignoring his weak attempts to shove it away.

Raven sprang forward, drawing her sword and swinging through the beast’s neck in a single motion and turning it to smoke that bit at her face. Qrow slumped, his arm splashing into the mud.

“Can you move?” she demanded.

It took a second for him to focus on her face and when he spoke it came out as a weak rasp, gravelly and cracking. “She’ll kill you too.”

“If you’re strong enough to get back to camp, you’re strong enough to live.” They didn’t have time for him to get himself together, keeping the portal open was much harder when she and her anchor were on the same side. She grabbed him under the arms and pulled—Qrow moaned in pain but didn’t speak again. Probably lacked the strength.

“Stay quiet,” she ordered, letting the portal close behind them as she dragged him onto his bedroll. It had taken more of her aura than she’d hoped.

She tipped the poppy solution down his throat, but they didn’t have time for it to work—he was losing too much blood. She shoved a corner of his blanket into his mouth and grabbed the moonshine.

He screamed as she cleaned his wounds, but with nothing to power his Semblance luck was with her and nobody heard over the makeshift gag and the bad singing. Someone, probably Sanguin, had taken a knife to his shoulder, leaving a half-dozen deep gashes that needed stitching.

Luckily again, Qrow passed out after about a minute and she could work without him thrashing.

By the time she had finished with the third cut it was hard to hold her hands steady. There should have been some sign of his aura returning by now, but his injuries stayed dark and empty.

If he died Vanta would still be furious, and she’d have nothing to show for it. She couldn’t return his body to the village, or even get it out of camp without being seen. Damn it, she needed him. He was always the only anchor she could control.

At last she saw it—a tiny ember, like a single spark from a fire but the color of blood, blinked into existence over his heart. She paused in her work as it traced its way over his skin, drifting toward the nearest cut before sinking into it.

Putting him back together took hours. She had to steal more bandages twice, and she wasn’t sure enough of the splint she made for his arm. The sparks grew more frequent, but still formed alarmingly slowly and his aura was being consumed by his injuries as quickly as his soul produced it. With so much damage, it would probably be weeks before he’d be able to build a reserve. 

If he survived at all. He still hadn’t regained consciousness.

The rest of the camp had fallen into a drunken stupor forever ago, but eventually she’d done all she could and collapsed onto her own bedroll. Vanta would find them in the morning, and hopefully she wouldn‘t kill them both.

She bit down on her tongue, trying to hold back exhausted, frustrated tears. Why? She just couldn’t understand. Qrow should have become the tribe’s leader, not Vanta, should have demanded that everyone else fall in line behind him the moment Bones fell. Couldn’t he see how afraid they were of him, of his Semblance?

Raven would give anything for that kind of power—her own did nothing but put her at the mercy of others.

Still, she supposed she should be grateful for her brother’s appalling weakness. If he ever decided to take his rightful place in the tribe, she’d be as likely to die as anyone else when he bent them to his will.

                                                      *          *          *

   “What did you do?!“

Raven jolted awake, seizing the handle of the knife under her mat.

“You brought that traitor back here?“ Vanta’s hand seized the back of her head, smashing her face down onto her arm and holding it there, bending her nose painfully.

“No, I didn’t!”

“Well, you certainly took care of him,” she spat, shoving her down harder before letting go.

Raven sat up while she had the chance, keeping the knife under the blanket. Vanta would still have extra aura from draining those Huntsmen, and her own reserves still felt drained.

It was hard to meet her eye—Vanta had never been this angry at her. Raven fought to keep her voice steady. “The strong live, the weak die. He lived, so he’s strong.”

It was the tribe’s custom. If an injured bandit made it back from a raid, they’d proven their strength. Even if they needed help with the bandages. Vanta may lead the tribe now, but if she threw away the old traditions she wouldn’t lead for long.

Of course, she might just kill them both and blame Qrow.

Vanta seized her neck, aura crackling around her hand, and Raven almost slashed at her face on reflex. “Then you’d better hope you’re the next one he kills, because if you aren’t, I’ll feed you to the Grimm myself.” She shoved her back to the ground before letting go of her throat and storming from their tent.

Raven slowly released the knife, forcing herself to breathe. They should probably kill Vanta sooner rather than later.

      [Vanta's name comes from the color Vantablack, which is worth looking up if you've never heard of it because the Semple/Kapoor feud is nothing if not entertaining. Also, black absorbs all color wavelengths, which is how I came up with her Semblance.]

[TLDR: Raven gets Vanta drunk, and once she's passed out, opens a portal to Qrow. She kills the Beowolf bothering him and takes him back through the portal to camp before taking care of his injuries as much as she can. When his aura doesn't seem to be returning at all, she panics because he might not live, but after a while she starts to see sparks in his injuries. She needs him alive because Vanta is the only other person she can portal to now that Bones is dead, and Vanta's abusive and scary.

The next morning Vanta is not pleased to see Qrow alive, but Raven reminds her of the tribe's tradition: if an injured bandit can make it back to camp they're entitled to medical attention. Vanta can't throw out tradition without weakening her control over the tribe, so she doesn't kill Qrow outright but scares Raven and leaves. Raven decides they probably have to kill her soon in order to stay alive.]

Next Chapter: Summer—Summertime

[bridgyrose]

Blake: *running to the city gates, watching grimm swarm all over the city* Guess we’re a bit late.

Valen: We have to do something.

Blake: *sighing as she watched the wyvern grimm drip puddles around the city* Its like the fall of Beacon all over again…

Valen: Then we have to stop it!

Blake: You know how we can. 

Valen: There needs to be another way-

Salem: *catching up to Blake* I… I have an idea. You are not going to like it though.

Blake: And what idea is that?

Salem: We give her the lamp. Here and now.

Blake: *holding the lamp and sighing* And how do we know she wont just kill us?

Salem: Any better ideas?

Valen: She has a point.

Blake: *sighing and walking out* Weiss!

Weiss: *landing the wyvern* Blake…

Blake: *holding out the lamp* I… give up.

Weiss: *looking at her curiously* You give up?

Blake: *nodding* I do.

Weiss: *creating grimm hands to hold Blake down* It’s a bit late for that, my dear.

Blake: *struggling to get out* S-stop attacking the city. You wont be able to get anything from it.

Weiss: Oh, Blake, that wont happen. Not when I’m so close to have all the relics.

Blake: And why does that matter?

Weiss: With all four relics together, I can destroy the gods. Well, not literally destroy, but I might as well be. You see, keeping all four of them together will allow me to call the gods back. Or, instead, I could use their power to reshape the world. Make it a better place for all. Sever their connection to this world and not allow them back.

Blake: You know that’s not right-

Weiss: It’s best for everyone. *steps off the wyvern to grab the lamp* And all I need now is for Ciel to bring me the crown. 

Valen: *taking control* My father would never-

Weiss: *smirking* Your father? Sorry for you to hear, but your father is dead.

Valen: *growling and struggling* 

Weiss: *climbing back onto the wyvern* I’ll be back for you. 

Valen: *ripping through the grimm, aura shining a vibrant purple as Blake merges with him* I will not allow you to hurt them anymore!

Weiss: *frowning* Still have some fight left in you? Fine. I’ll make you submit. *creates a fireball and launches it at Valen*

Valen: *tapping into Blake’s semblance, dodging the fireball and trying to get close to Weiss* I’ll kill you!

Weiss: And how do you plan to do that? *creates an ice patch under Valen* I’m immortal. You cant kill me!

Valen: *landing on the ice and slipping, the dust crystal slipping out of his bag*

Weiss: *eyeing the crystal and sighing* You were going to use dust against me? And how were you planning on using it?

Valen: *scrambling to get the crystal, only to be tackled by a beowolf* 

Weiss: *smirking* Get this through your head, kid. You’ve lost. And you cant defeat me.

Valen: *sighing* I… I cant… I need to…

Weiss: *watching Valen struggle* Submit to me and I wont let you get ripped to shreds.

Valen: *eyes changing to amber as Blake assumed control* Valen, I’m sorry. But there’s only one way out of this.

Weiss: *climbing back onto the Wyvern* 

Blake: *using her shadow clone to get away from the grimm and pulling a few dust crystals out of her bag* Hey Weiss! Remember when we first met?

Weiss: *looking at Blake* A bit late to get sentimental, isnt it?

Blake: *grinning* Yes, but never too late for a blast from the past! *throws the other dust crystals at the silver one*

Weiss: *eyes widening* No!

*And explosion of silver light engulfed the area, clearing out the grimm and freezing the wyvern in place*

Salem: *coughing as the dust settled from the explosion* Valen! Blake! Are either of you there?

Valen: *groaning as he got up, an arm missing and covered in dust* I… I think I’m alive.

Salem: *rushing to him to help him up* Valen!

Valen: Y-yeah, I’m here. 

Salem: *looking around, seeing remnants of the grimm wyvern scattered across the city gates and walls, a large crater causing part of the walls to collapse* Seems like Blake did it.

Valen: *chuckling a bit* Hear that Blake? We did it.

Salem: *sighing* Valen….

Valen: *hesitating* I… I cant hear her…

Salem: Weiss was defeated. Blake had to go too.

Valen: *sighing and falling onto his back* Right….

Salem: *picking Valen up* Let’s get you to a healer. We have a lot of work to do.

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

Blake: *groaning as she woke up in a white room* W-where am I?

God of Light: You’re back in the god’s domain.

Blake: Great….

GoL: You did complete your mission. You stopped Weiss.

Blake: Where is she?

GoL: *turning to point to a cage* Imprisoned so she cannot cause any more-

Blake: *frowning* Hold on a second! You’re going to imprison her for something you forced upon her?

GoL: We didnt force anything-

Blake: Bullshit! You forced her to be immortal with Salem. You had a few chances to help Weiss keep any of this from happening and you still let someone become queen of the grimm! 

GoL: She did it all on her own-

Blake: *walking up to the God of Light* Again, bullshit! Let my wife go!

GoL: *frowning* You dare question my judgement on her?

Blake: I question everything you’ve done. Salem told me everything that happened. You gods do nothing but toy with everyone! Now let my wife go! I did exactly as you asked and now I want to be with her again!

GoL: *getting ready to smite Blake*

God of Darkness: Brother, she has a point. We made a few mistakes that day. Let the girl go.

GoL: *sighing* Fine. We’ll let the girl go. But you both must deal with the consequences of your actions.

Blake: Fine.

GoD: *grinning* Enjoy. *snapping his fingers*

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

Blake: *waking up in a small cottage next to Weiss* I hate it when they do that….

Weiss: *groaning* Why does everything hurt?

Blake: *smiling and hugging Weiss* You’re back!

Weiss: *flinching at the hug* Blake….

Blake: *hugging Weiss tightly* Weiss, please dont. I dont blame you for anything that happened. 

Weiss: You should-

Blake: But I dont. I’m glad you’re back to yourself.

Weiss: *sighing* Right…. Where are we anyway?

Blake: *letting go and looking around* Honestly, not a clue. 

Weiss: Well, it definitely isnt home.

Blake: We could make it home though….

Weiss: *looking at Blake curiously* Make it home?

Blake: *nodding* I… I want to live with you. As my wife. 

Weiss: *smiling* I would love that.