#i want to talk about how mercury was calling emerald to snap out so they could go | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tanakavox · 4 years ago

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The screen runs again as shows the red coated Jaune standing around looking annoyed as a voice calls out to him.

"Hey look it's half demon Jaune again!" Nora cheered.

"...Half what? Coco deadpan.

"Jaune in this universe is the son of Ozpin,who's a demon who saved all of humanity. Cinder is like his twins or something." Yang quickly brought the others to speed.

"Teach is a demon?" Coco asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Wait who's the mom then?" Velvet asked, confused.

"That's….. A very good question. We didn't get an answer to that. Yang mused.

"I just wanna know who this person with the annoying voice was." Whitley muttered

"Another good question that we don't get answers to. Sorry."

"Thanks for destroying the lock for me, devil boy! And welcome to hell! Please accept my gift. Don't be humble, just take it. After all, we are buddies aren't we?" The voice the viewers recozinge as Jester as she cackles loudly.

A fountain of blood flows onto the statues which bring out blood bat-based demons called Blood-goyles flies toward Jaune and he cuts it in half with a casual swipe from his sword.

Jaune shakes his head in disappointment. "Well, isn't that special. To be honest, I'm expecting something a little better than this," Jaune then goes to dispatch them and leaves on his way to find Cinder.

The scene cuts to Jaune walking in front of a door with two statues and stopping when they began to start talking. Jaune doesn't look a bit shocked.

"Look brother, it's been ages, but we finally have company," one called Rudra said gleefully.

"I see that," The other is called Agni simply.

"We must entertain our guest."

"You're right. We have to be gracious hosts."

"Brother, what should we do?" Rudra asked.

"How do I know? We need to come up with something," Agni stated.

Jaune began to get impantice pacing back and forward and sighed.

"I don't blame him for getting impantice. These guys are annoying." Mercury stated. He was already starting not like these guys.

"Oh come on they weren't even talking!" Ruby pointed out glaring at Mercury.

"Still annoying."

Rudra took notice with this. "Brother, our guest is... sighing."

"SIGH? What is... SIGH?" Agni asked, a bit confused.

"Well a sigh is when -" Rudra was about to answer until he was cut off by their guest.

"Enough already!" Jaune said, finally snapping, "How long are you two gonna keep carrying on like this? In case you didn't get the hint, I'll spell it out. Your guest wants to go through. Got it."

"Our job here is to guard this door," Rudra said the statue was moving a bit.

"That's right! We can't let you pass," Agni added his piece.

(After Agni & Rudra battle)

"Wow, he took them out without much effort." Fiona said wide eyed.

"That kinda sums up this Jaune huh? He didn't have much trouble with the last guy either. Nora responded with a huge grin.

"He's gonna die when he gets to Cinder though. Emerald said with a smirk. "Remember what happened at the start. Nora turns to glare at her.

"Shut up!" She barked.

After their bodies were defeated in battle, both demon swords spun around in the air until they fell and got stuck on the ground in a crossed-blades position. They see Jaune walking towards the exit of the room, about to leave them behind.

"Wait!" Rudra cried out to Jaune.

Against his better thinking, Jaune turns around to acknowledge the two demon guards

"Yes, wait. We have been waiting for a long time," Agni said after his brother.

"Yes, a very long time," Rudra echoed.

"For someone stronger than us."

"Someone who can control us."

"My name is Agni," the red demon sword said.

"And my name is Rudra. You shall take us with you," The blue demon sword stated.

"We could be a great help to you!" Both brothers said as one.

Jaune took a moment to think about their offer. They were pretty strong together and seeing as how he's already let Cereberus tag along, he could use these two as Devil Arms as well. "Okay, but on one condition," He pressed.

"What is it?" Agni asked ecstatically.

"Name it!" Rudra sharing his brother's joy stated.

Jaune points to both brothers, "No talking!" While they were a strong force together, he would not deal with their constant chit-chat along the way.

"Thank god he said it." Mercury stated.

"Much as I hate to agree with you but yeah." Jaune piped up.

"Jaune!" Ruby cried, lightning punching him in the arm. Jaune raised his arms defensively

"I'm sorry Rubes, But they're really annoying.

"Fair enough!" Agni agreed to the blonde's terms.

"As you wish," Rudra echoed his agreement.

Jaune picks up the two swords and does a kata. The force of every swing of the two swords generated sharp winds and scorching flames. By the end, Jaune couldn't help but smile in satisfaction at how amazing these Devil Arms were and how strong they felt in his hands.

"... That was so cool." Ruby whispered with stars in her eyes.

"Impressive," The blue brother praised his new master.

Jaune flips the swords and bangs the two brother's heads together. "No talking," He repeated their agreement.

Neither Agni or Rudra said anything more, almost like they really were inanimate objects.

"Good," Jaune said in satisfaction, having peace and quiet again.

—

The scene changes to show the young crimsonette walk stealthily down a corridor with a gun in hand, the sounds of heavy steps closing in around her.

"Hey look! It's me! Ruby cheered. She didn't get to show up alot in this movie so far. But she started to get worried. It looked like she was about to get ambushed.

It's all of a sudden when a group of Pride Hell's attempt to ambush her. She's able to evade the swings of their scythe weapons thanks to her fast reflexes, allowing her to retrieve a second pistol from a holster. She shoots at two of the Hells and continues to fire in quick succession. One of the Hells thrusted the blunt pommel of their scythe in her direction, Ruby's able to dodge the strike by hopping on top of it and evade multiple swings directed at her in an expert show of her athletic ability. She continues to return fire to them as they continue to advance.

"WHOOO GO RUBY!" Yang cheered as she went to town on the demons.

Even when she gets cornered she has a plan. Ruby kicked two Hells back with her legs, a gift for each of them in the form of grenades. The explosion results in the Hells along with herself being propelled into the air. She doesn't give them a chance to recover as she continues to send bullets their way via cyclone of death. She finds footing on an embedded scythe in the wall, she fires at a nearby Hell and then uses the scythe as a high bar as a means to continue her attack on the rest of the Hells while performing many acts of peak acrobatic ability and gunfire. Eventually she finds herself upside down, her only support was her feet hooked around two embedded poles. The Hells take this opportunity to strike against Ruby together, they never seem to learn.

"Which version of Ruby seems very skilled,'' Weiss mused.

"You say that like you believe I'm not skilled now Ruby said smiling at Weiss. Weiss doesn't say anything as Ruby stares at her. She pouted at the former heiress. "I'm skilled Weiss!"

"Yes. Of Course Ruby." Weiss replies with a smirk.

Ruby turns to Jaune to get him on her side but stops when she noticed that Jaune crossed his legs tightly and was staring at the screen intently.

"Uh Jaune? Why did you cross your legs so tightly?"

Jaune turns to Ruby wide eyed and stutters out an answer. "Uh I-i just feel more comfortable like this!" No way he was gonna tell Ruby watching her go to town on demons was hot to him. Ruby stares at him for a few seconds and goes back to the movie.

Deciding it was time to bring out the big guns, Ruby draws out her trusty Crescent Rose and fires a missile at the ground beneath her. The explosion knocks back the Hells while propelling her into the air once more. Ruby lands onto the ground in a crouch position with no signs of harm throughout the ordeal. As she looks around, she releases a sigh of relief as the Hells were no longer a threat. She tugs her darling back on her shoulder and continues on, as she leaves the screen pans to an overhead shot to see that the charred remains of the ground resembling a '6.'

Ruby is now seen on a balcony of Temen-ni-gru, reloading her arsenal, sitting on a rock until she hears a voice come from behind her. Upon recognizing the voice she immediately pulls out one of her guns.

"Well, well... You've grown stronger," Raven said as she approached the young woman.

"Mom." Yang had a dark look on her face.

"What does she want with Ruby? Blake asks.

"If you shut your yap you may find out." Mercury said nonchalantly causing Blake to glare at him.

"Go to Hell," She raises her pistol directly towards Raven's face.

"You point a gun at me? Your own kin? Your dear Auntie?" Raven said as though she were truly shocked.

Ruby's face twists in rage, "The only family I ever had was my sister, and she's dead!"

"SHE KILLED ME?!" Yang yelled out in shock? The rest of her team and friends were in shock as well. Qrow couldn't believe it. Yang and Raven never really had a good relationship but he didn't think Raven would kill her own daughter.

Ruby shoots with her pistol four times, but finds that Raven has vanished. She draws out a SMG and aims both guns to her left and right in case Raven could get the jump on her. She scans around her surroundings for any signs of Raven only to find nothing. That only left one direction left uncheck... was above!

"You break my heart. After all, it was I who gave you your name. My darling niece!" Raven yells as she stares at Ruby while hanging upside down on the balcony roof.

Ruby was about to shoot when Raven's book dropped on her face blocking her vision. Raven takes this opportunity to get the jump on Ruby and throws her niece off the platform. Before she was out of Raven's sight, she felt her cheek get grazed by one of Ruby's bullets that she fired her way.

"That should have gone into her head!" Yang screamed, her eyes glowing red. Qrow couldn't help but agree with his niece.

Ruby continues falling Temen-ni-gru, that is until Jaune catches sight of her falling and proceeds to catch her by one of her boots. She looks at what stopped her fall and upon recognizing the boy in red, points both her guns at him.

Jaune looks down at the girl with a grin, pleased to see this interesting girl again. "Well, this is my kind of rain. No wonder the sky looks so funny today," He said while looking up at the cloudy sky.

"Getting bold ain't ya Bondie?" Qrow said, turning to Jaune who gave him an annoyed look.

"Yeah? And you want me to what Old man?" He snapped.

Qrow growled knowing he couldn't do anything.

"Let me go!" Ruby yelled.

"Don't say that stupid" Ruby yelled at the other version of herself.

Jaune looked at her with surprise, "Let you go? But it would be a waste if you ended up as just a pretty stain."

"Smooth Arc. Smooth." Coco teased as Jaune faces red at his alternate self boldness with his best friend.

Ruby having enough this guy's talk shoots him in his head. When the bullet makes contact with Jaune's face, it causes him to let go of the girl which results in her fall down again. This time however she's able to use the blade of Crescent Rose as a means to stop her fall. As she hangs off her weapon, she hears the sound of footst coming from the platform above.

"NO ME NO!" Ruby yelled out in horror at the fact she possibly killed her best friend.

"Huh look at that. He died earlier than I thought." Emerald laughed.

Jaune peers over the edge of the platform at the girl, sporting a bleeding bullet wound on his forehead and a miffed expression, "What the hell was that for? Here I am trying to help you and you show your thanks by shooting me?"

"Oh thanks goodness." Ruby sighed in relief.

"We shouldn't be too surprised. Getting stabbed several times with scythe only made him mad." Oscar pointed out.

Ruby, very confused with how he's even standing, responds by shooting him again.

The bullet once again makes contact, however, Jaune is able to react quickly enough to catch it between his teeth. After spitting the offending bullet out of his mouth he decides it would be in his best interest to ditch the girl, "Whatever, do as you please."

"God me! You just lost your chance at getting a friend!" Ruby said in a disapproving tone.

Ruby lowers her gun as she's finally able to pick up why she's been having a bad feeling about this guy, "So he's a demon too."

As he leaves, Jaune cleans off a bit of leftover blood from his face and wipes it on the wall. "I'm beginning to think I've got rotten luck with women," The line of fresh blood drips down the wall, creating the image of a '7.'

—

The scene changes to the very top of Temen-ni-gru, there stands a black haired woman in the rain, a ethereal full moon shining its light in the night sky, and the only sound that was present was the roaring winds in the air.

The silence would soon be broken as the sound of approaching footsteps began to come up the stairs. Jaune approaches the platform, finally making it to the top of the large tower that was Temen-ni-gru. After fighting multiple demons just to get here he was finally met with his gracious hostess, Cinder.

Cinder turned her head to address her guest, already knowing who it was, "...You showed up," She smiled.

Cinder sat forward in her seat. Ready to see herself destroy this weakening again.

Jaune walks up to her, while twirling Ivory in his hands. There was a smile on his face as he paced around the platform, "You sure know how to throw a party. No food, no drinks, and the only babe just left." Jaune lightheartedly pokes at his sister's very poor party preparation.

"My sincerest apology, brother. I was so eager to see you I couldn't concentrate on the preparations for the bash," Cinder replies with a warmth that was difficult to tell if it was genuine or not.

D-do they hate each other?" Oscar asks. "They seem pretty happy to see each other."

Jaune brushes it off continuing his pacing, "Whatever. At any rate, it's been a whole year since we last met. How about a kiss from your little brother? Or better yet, how about a kiss from this?"

Jaune immediately points Ivory directly at Cinder. The sound of lightning and thunder echoed throughout the dark sky, signaling the change in the atmosphere around the two siblings.

"So, this is what they call a heart warming family reunion eh…" Jaune questions as his face grinned, expressing that he was ready for a fight,

Cinder's eyes darkened, her facial expression becoming cold but determined, "You got that right."

Cinder opens up Yamato with her thumb, its blade gleaming in the moonlight.

"Take down, Fearless leader" Nora cheered.

"Heh. Come red. We both know how this is gonna end up."" Mercury said chuckling at her.

"I thought I told you to shut up?" Nora hissed.

—

Jaune and Cinder separated from each other, both breathing heavily from the battle, after fighting so intensely they took a moment to catch their breath. Their fight in the rain had lasted for some time, as evidenced by Cinder's hair being flat down, wet from all the rainwater.

Jaune is able to recover first so he takes Rebellion and starts charging at his sister, Rebellion's tip generating sparks as he drags it on the ground. Cinder recovers in time to evade his attempted strike, giving her the opportunity to parry with Yamato.

Jaune spins Rebellion with both hands then thrusted the sword towards Cinder, who then sidesteps the blade's path. She rotates Yamato to hold the katana backhanded, following up by knocking Jaune backwards with its kashira (pommel). Both of them quickly clashed their blades together, resulting in both of them being knocked back, Jaune having already off his feet is knocked the farthest back.

Jaune skits to one of the pillars standing on the platform, stopping his backwards momentum. He quickly draws out Ebony from her holster, and fires seven shots at his brunette sibling. The bullets are seen speeding towards Cinder who begins spinning Yamato in a quick rotating motion, deflecting three of the bullets while catching the remaining four that were originally aimed towards her.

Cinder places the caught bullets on the floor with Yamato in single file and then returns them to her blonde brother. Jaune sees the returning bullets coming towards him but he quickly lifts Rebellion over his head and is able to quickly slice through them, which then burst behind him.

"...That was fucking cool. Mercury stated and no one disagreed with him

Cinder points Yamato at him, her face expressing her frustration towards her brother, "Why do you refuse to gain power? The power of our father Ozma?"

"I thought you guys said that teacher was their dad?" Coco turned to everyone with a raised eyebrow.

"He is, that's just his real name." Blake said with a sigh. "It's a long story. Don't ask." Coco shrugs and goes back to the movie.

Jaune, after using Rebellion to help him stand, looks at Cinder as if she told him a bad joke, "Father? I don't have a father. I just don't like you, that's all."

Ozpin's heart ached hearing Jaune say that. He knew that they weren't his kids in his universe but the fact that any kids of his were fighting at all as well one of his sons rejecting him, hurted.

A moment of silence passes before the two siblings charge at each other once more, both of their swords clash against the other, while both Jaune and Cinder stare the other down. The spot where both Yamato and Rebellion met begins turning a bright orange, the generated sparks and heat being caused by the force behind both blades, as the two continue staring down the other. The whining of two metals being tested is heard, Jaune seemed to be exerting everything he had, while Cinder showed no apparent signs of exertion at all. The struggle is finally ended when Cinder strikes Rebellion away from her brother's grasp, the large sword spinning in the air until it strikes against the ground, timed perfectly as Cinder impales Jaune with Yamato.

Cinder smirks as she hears the cries of the blonde fools friends as her blade sinks into his stomach. Today was a good day. Two universes where she totally domanations. She turns to Jaune to see his reaction. To her disappointment the blonde didn't react much. Only had a stoic expression. Jaune knew he was gonna lose but didn't want to give the bitch the satisfaction of his disappointment.

His blood trickles down onto the floor and Yamato itself while Jaune grasps at the blade that was impaling his abdomen.

Cinder looks down at her impaled sibling, her face expressing neither joy or satisfaction in the act, only disappointment, "Foolishness, Jaune, foolishness. Might control everything. And without strength, you can't protect anything. Let alone yourself."

Cinder agreed with her counterpart but didn't really care on how she wasn't enjoying her other self with her impaling the fool.

"She... looks disappointed?" Mercury echoed Cinder's thoughts.

"Maybe they do love others? In some kinda weird way?" Ruby said, scratching her head in confusion.

Cinder forcibly removes Jaune from Yamato's blade then takes his amulet from him and leaves a slash on Jaune's sleeve. She looks at the amulet in her hand for a moment, fixes her hair back to its original shape, and starts to walk away but not before taking hold of Rebellion. When Jaune tries to get up, Cinder turns around and quickly impales him with his own sword.

A pan up shot shows Jaune as his blood begins pooling under him, Rebellion pinning his body to the floor.

"Do you finally have it?" Cinder turns around and there she sees Raven standing behind her, seeming to have just arrived.

"Yes. Now the spell Ozma cast will be broken," Cinder says to the scarred woman.

"Spell?" Velvet asked

"Ozpin in this universe sealed the demon world from the human alongside all of his power.

"And Cinder and Raven want to open the gate to the demon realm to get his power?" Yatshu finally speaks up.

Jaune lays on the platform unconscious, seeming like he is dead… until the skull on Rebellion changes form and the sword is launched into the air, the water rises behind Jaune as he charges ahead and tries to attack Cinder.

She quickly blocks Jaune's fist with Yamato, resulting in his hand being covered in blood as the blade sliced through it. Unlike before, Jaune's face shows no evidence of being in pain due to the injury, instead his face shows significant rage towards Cinder.

"I see, the devil inside you has awakened as well," Cinder said to him. This time showing a peaked interest.

"Holy shit Blondie doesn't that hurt?!" Fiona cried out wincing in pain just watching Jaune's hands sink into the blade.

Jaune forces his impaled arm through Yamato, his tissue healing at such an astonishing rate as once his hand is removed it shows no sign of damage or deformity. He grabs the blade once more, then uses his newfound strength to fling Cinder over his shoulder.

"Interesting. It seems like the boy's regen has increased incredibly."Salem mused on learning forward. "They seem more like my children than your Opsin." She smiles at him mocking but it dropped when Nora spoke.

"Probably because you are their mom."Nora replied nonchalantly while still looking at the movie.

Salem took pauses at this and took a closer look at Jaune in the movie and the one in the theater. She got a weird feeling from him, but she decided to push it to the back of her head and just decided the pink one was talking nonsense.

Cinder lands on her feet soon after, preparing to fight him once more before she is stopped by Raven's voice from behind her, "Wait. We should leave. For the moment we have all that we need."

A white aura surrounds Jaune as he walks towards them, his eyes dulled and his steps heavy as he slowly begins triggering the demon inside of him. It was at this time that Cinder and Raven walked away, jumping off the edge of Temen-ni-gru, letting him transform into his Devil Form for the very first time. After releasing an inhuman roar, Jaune falls to the ground unconscious, returning to his human form.

"Holy shit what was that?!" Ruby looked at Jaune in shock.

"Is that what Cinder meant when she said Jaune unlocked the devil inside of him? Because that is a badass looking devil man!" Mercury shouted, getting hyped up.

—

After some time has passed, Jaune awakens once more and gets up off of the ground. The rain having stopped results in many of the clouds to clear up, one of them showing a figure of an '8.' He rips the broken portion of the sleeve from his jacket, then picks up Rebellion. Jaune finds them gone, feeling defeated he slams his fist at the nearest pillar, which results in the top portion of the structure to explode. Jaune looks at what he's done and he discovers he has awakened newfound power, it surprisingly felt...good.

"Oh know that look." Yang had a knowing smile.

Next thing Jaune knows, he jumps off the top of Temen-ni-gru, beginning his pursuit to get his amulet back from his sister and that scarred woman. During his plummet he decides to test his new capabilities on incoming demons. The incoming Blood-goyles will do nicely.

He slays large quantities of the Blood-goes with extraordinary ease, all of his speed, strength, and agility had increased so much that he was like a blur to the normal eye. He throws Rebellion at a number of Blood-golyes, quickly impaling and to finish the job he fires Ebony at the swords pommel, increasing the speed of his sword so much that it reaches terminal velocity. Jaune chases after Rebellion until his outstretched arm is able to reach the same speed as his falling sword. Once he's able to grasp it, Jaune launches himself off of Temin-ni-grun at a horizontal angle.

"... I hate the fact that I've said that's badass to this guy more there once. Mercury muttered.

This new power felt amazing to him, he felt invincible. Powerful. Unstoppable…

That's when the giant Leviathan in the sky showed up and swallowed him whole.

Salem eyes widen at the sight of the giant whale. "Richard?!" she took a closer look and realized that it was not Richard and settled down/

—

The scene changes to a separate corridor of the tower, where both Cinder and Raven appear before an enormous locked door.

Raven is seen looking into her book, very focused on its contents, starts sharing her knowledge with Cinder, "People once cried out in fear of this tower. Temen-ni-gru, a foundation that brought out fear. Fear. Yes, fear. Can't you feel it? The rage and agonies of people. Those who are confined here... with their desires of evil being unfulfilled... It was all because Ozma slammed the door to the Demon World in their faces…"

Raven looks towards the gate as it begins to unlock its many safeguards. Once they undone, the doors opened, allowing the two to continue forward.

Raven before continuing on turns around to see if someone she knows followed them.

"What's wrong?" Cinder asked the distracted Raven.

"...Nothing," Raven replies, obviously lying to her about her true concerns.

"I hope Ruby comes and ends up shooting you in the head, you witch. Yang said seething with rage.

"Same here." Qrow growled in agreement.

Without another word being said, the two women begin making their way deeper into the tower of Temen-ni-gru.

—

As soon as Jaune finished destroying Leviathan's heart, the titanic beast let out a final bloodcurdling scream as it fell to the ground.

Ruby is seen somewhere outside of the tower continuing her search until she sees an enormous whale plummet to the ground. The force of the beast as it crashed down shook the very earth where she stood, its shock felt all across the tower and even by those in the lower levels. Even Cinder and Raven took note of the aftershock of the Leviathan, even if they dismissed it completely after a few seconds.

"Holy shit he just killed that Whale by himself." Coco looked on in wonder.

"Okay guys I'm blind. What the hell happened?" Fox asked, getting a bit annoyed.

"Oh sorry Fox! Uh Jaune killed a giant whale and is now covered in blood."

"Oh. That's really cool." Fox said simply.

The young crimsonette finds where the corpse of the demon landed and witnesses as its blood colored eye is being slashed as Jaune, having finally got out of the oversized whale that swallowed him. Although he did end up being covered head to toe in its blood, so it was a Pyrrhic victory.

"So, this is the next stage?" Jaune thought out loud, thinking he was by himself.

"Wait!" A voice called out behind him.

Jaune turns around to see that it was the same girl from before, and having recalled their last meeting, he had a sour feeling towards her, "If you're asking for a date, forget it. Because I made it a point not to go out with women who shoot me in the head." Emphasizing his point by pointing to a specific spot on his forehead, where he knows she shot him.

"That's a deal breaker most. You're a meanie for doing that Ruby." Nora teased the redhead. She sinks into her seat with a pout.

Ruby scoffed, "Date a demon? I'm not that desperate. Besides, I really don't care for guys who stink like blood."

Jaune quickly sniffs at his clothes, then double takes at how bad the Leviathan's blood reeked, "You're right."

That got a laugh out of most of the viewers. But Ruby shook her head a bit. She just didn't get it. A few years ago, She and Jaune were dating, but now they hate each other. It was weird and it made her feel odd. But she keeps watching.

The mood suddenly changed when both Jaune and Ruby pulled out their guns, however, they weren't aiming at each other. Soon enough, a swarm of Demons ambushed them, causing both of them to form an unofficial alliance to fight off all the various demons.

During the shootout between them and the Pride Hells the two moved back to back for a defensive advantage. Seeing as they had time to kill, Jaune thought he should get to know this mystery girl he had allied himself with, "So tell me, what's your name?"

"I don't have a name," the crimsonette quickly replied, not wanting to get buddy-buddy with a demon.

"Uh… But that Raven chick said she named you Ruby earlier." Coco pointed out.

Not dissuaded in the slightest, Jaune continues to ask questions, "Oh, then what should I call you?"

"I don't care. Whatever you want," Ruby plainly replies, she would rather be focused on killing these Hell Prides than getting distracted by chit-chat.

Jaune laughs as he jumps over a group of incoming demons, then turns back to call out to the crimsonette, "Whatever Lady. I'll leave this to you. Because I don't want to miss the party."

"Lady? That's the best you could come up with?" Yang looked unimpressive.

"More concerned that he just ditched Ruby." Blake said, crossing her arms.

"She did shoot him in the head. Might not want to deal with her," Weiss reminded her team to which Blake nods her head in agreement.

Ruby scoffed, "Who counted on you anyway?"

With the red coat demon gone, she continues fighting against the Hells. The screen shows one of her bullet shells that fell to the ground, the ammunition being a '9. millimeter'

—

Jaune enters a gothic structured room, with a stage and all. He was left wondering where the gatekeeper of this room was until a cauldron of bats emerged in the room. They all form into one shape, which happens to look like an extremely attractive redhead with deathly pale skin and crimson eyes, who'd hair acted as a covering for her bare upper body.

Jaune has to admit, as far as demons went for deceiving their prey, this was new. He liked new things.

Nevan looks upon this new guest with great interest and hunger, "Hmm, welcome sir. Is this your first time here?"

"Yeah it is. You'll be nice to me won't you?" Jaune asked her, playing along with her game.

Ruby's eyes dimmed as she turned to Jaune and muttered out "Filth." Which left the Blonde confused.

"What do I do?" He asked but Ruby didn't answer him. What should I do?!" He asked her again but still received no answer.

Nevan laughs sweetly at her guests request, one that was intended to lower his guard, "Of course I will. I'll treat you so nicely, you'll never want to leave."

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Jaune says before drawing Rebellion, making his point clear to his hostess that he wasn't here for that kind of fun.

Nevan, now knowing her guest was not a typical desire driven human, concedes to play with him for a little while. She walks towards her stage until she looks back at her blonde guest, "Then come on, Sugar."

—

Nevan falls back in defeat, or would have had Jaune not catch her in his left arm, "My, you're sweet."

Thinking she has him fooled, Nevan tries lunging at Jaune's throat before feeling her abdomen being penetrated by a bullet from Ivory.

Jaune laughs, "You'd think so, wouldn't you?"

"Good job Jaune." Ruby cheered with a wide smile which left him even more confused as she was just mad at him a few seconds ago.

Nevan also laughed, already knowing she was beaten, having already decided that it would be much easier on herself if she would surrender to him, "Alright. I'll help you. Your father was a handsome devil, but you're no slouch yourself."

"Salem blinked at the she-devil's comment on her ex's looks. And frankly she didn't appreciate it. She wanted to make sure Ozpin never knew happiness with another woman and thankfully her… possibable son killed her.

After giving up her physical form, Nevan transformed into the Devil Arm "Nevan"... an demonic electric guitar.

While performing an amazing death metal solo, Jaune showcases "Nevan's" unique ability as both a demonic guitar and an electrified scythe. The end of his act ending in a shower of fireworks and sparks.

Ruby let out a shriek at Jaune's new weapon. "It's not fair! I want an electric scythe guitar she whines."

"He plays better on the guitar than he did at beacon though." Weiss said with a teasing smirk at Jaune, who stuck his tongue out at her.

—

Meanwhile, Ruby continues to fight against the Hell Prides, utilizing her full arsenal on them while she simultaneously reloads all her weapons throughout the fight. From her pistol to her Crescent Rose.

When all the Hell Prides had been slain, a falling pistol from the sky is caught by the crimsonette, who smiled at its return.

"Welcome back!" Ruby said.

After packing all of her things, she makes her way towards the next entrance, continuing towards her end goal.

—

Raven and Cinder make their way to the final door to their destination, their end goal within their grasp.

Raven expresses excitement to Cinder, having finally been so close to their goal, "Soon we will reach the lair of judgement. Temen-ni-gru will finally regain its full function and lead us into the Demon World. The world where Ozma's power has been sealed. And the one who will lift the incantation is you, his own daughter. It must be fate."

Before they enter the chamber, Raven looks to check back the way they came, Cinder stops walking concerned of the woman's actions.

"Does that woman really bother you?" Cinder asked Raven.

Raven looked at the brunette quizzically, "What are you talking about?"

Looking back at the older woman, Cinder made her thoughts clear, "Why didn't you kill her? Perhaps, because she is your niece? Did some pesky auntie love get in your way?"

"... Why didn't she kill Ruby?" Yang realized Cinder brought up a good point. Raven was fine killing herself but didn't kill Ruby when she got the chance. It was odd.

Raven immediately became defensive in her body language and tone, "That is none of your-"

Raven is cut off when Cinder impales her in the abdomen, causing her to drop her book. Her blood trickles down onto the surface of the book, the drops that landed vaguely reminiscent of the number '10.'

While looking at the wounded Raven, Cinder decided it was time that she shared some of her own background knowledge, relating to Raven specifically, "To further your study of the black arts, you sacrificed your loving daughter, to become a devil as well. Knowing this I thought you'd be more useful to me, but I was wrong. No wonder your attainment of power is incomplete."

"... I'm not surprised my sister did this all in the search of power" Qrow muttered.

Cinder was incredibly giddy on getting her revenge on Raven, Even though it was technically her, it was close enough and she bathed in the scene with great glee.

Raven coughed up some of her blood, trickling from her mouth, before she exchanged an enraged glare towards Cinder, "What about you? You're an incomplete being as well. Both demon and human blood mingle in your veins. You dare judge me, even after you abandoned your own infant child-"

Cinder forcibly removes Yamato from Raven abdomen, her face showing genuine anger, "Shut up. Now that the final door is open, I have no use for you."

Without another word or glance, Cinder left Raven to lie at the entrance of the door as the old woman bleeds out. She has already come this far in her quest for power, she will not allow another minute pass while she is kept away from her birthright.

Everyone in the theater went dead silent at the bombshell Raven had just dropped. No one said a word and they all slowly turned toward Cinder with widen eyes with the expectation of Salem who had a mixture of anger and disappointment on her face. Cinder only look at the floor shaking as the words finally sinked in for herself.

"I… have a child?" She whispered to her in disbelief.

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kingangelrose · 4 years ago

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RWBY Volume 8 Chapter 1 Recap

“Divide” ------------------

We start off this new volume by seeing a girl scrubbing a wooden floor, that girl was Cinder Fall, before she was with Salem, this memory caused the Cinder now to scratch the seat of the airship seat that Neo was sitting in.

Cinder tells Neo to fly the ship over in the storm where the giant Grimm whale is, along with swarms of flying Grimm around it, going to return to Salem and give her the relic.

The whale opens its mouth, letting Cinder and Neo land the airship inside of it, they both walk up the stairs, to see Salem sitting on her throne. This was Neo’s first time ever seeing Salem in person.

Cinder bows to Salem, addressing her as her queen, Salem gets up from her throne, turning around with a little smile on her face. Salem tells Cinder that when she chose her for the vessel for the Maidens, she had put her trust in her, saying that she trusts she wouldn’t return empty handed.

Cinder presents the relic of knowledge to Salem, saying that she herself took it, which made Neo upset, Tyrian arrives saying to Cinder that outsmarting Ironwood speaks less of her intellect and more to his, saying that she was outsmarted by the heroes first, Cinder responds by saying that Ironwood and his forces outsmarted him as well, also saying that it was a shame Arthur Watts didn’t return with Tyrian.

Tyrian says that Watts a necessary sacrifice and hopes Neo doesn’t become another. Cinder tells Salem that Neo has very useful abilities and has proven to be a valuable asset, Salem says that Cinder really enjoys collecting them, which made Neo have second thoughts.

In new attire, Emerald and Mercury arrive, along with Hazel, Emerald runs to greet Cinder, but Cinder tells her to be quiet, stopping Emerald in tracks. Tyrian says while him and Watts were wreaking havoc in Atlas, Cinder was atoning for her past failures.

Cinder says that Penny stopped her from obtaining the Winter Maiden’s power, saying that now that she knows she has said power, it won’t take long before she finishes what she started and obtains the Winter Maiden’s power. However, Salem says that she gave Cinder no such commands.

Cinder tries to plea with Salem to reconsider, but Salem says that this “game” is not hers to win, it is Salem’s herself, she also says that just become she is of more value to her than a pawn, that doesn’t mean that she is a player, saying that everything is already set in motion, and that all that Cinder has to do is act when Salem tells her to.

“Of course.....without you....I am nothing...” - Cinder Fall With that, Salem waves her hands to everyone in the room, telling them to leave her presence, as she watches along as Atlas and Mantle are slowly about to be taken over. ------------------

Meanwhile, Oscar was in a poor looking village with a lot of homeless people and children in it after surviving the fall thanks to Ozpin, who returned in his mind, one offering him food in which he accepted and thanked the poor man for. The heroes arrive in the airship over the village, picking up Oscar.

Oscar says that he was stupid to think that Ironwood would listen to him, and every choice he made was wrong, Ruby says to Oscar that they all did what they thought was best and she’s glad that Oscar is safe. Just then, Joanna Greenleaf of the Happy Huntress waves her arms high to get the heroes’ attention to descend and get inside their base, in which they did.

Ruby, Weiss, Oscar, and met up with Yang, Blake, Jaune, Nora and Ren, also with who were already there, Nora walks towards Oscar, but instead of an intense and big hug, it was a soft and embracing one, Weiss asks Oscar how did he end up in the slums, Oscar responds by saying it’s a long story, and he has the feeling there was a few of them from everyone else as well, Ozpin in Oscar’s mind asked if he was going to tell them what happened, but in his mind, Oscar replied by saying that him and Ozpin aren’t done talking yet.

Oscar then asked where was Qrow, but none of them knew, unaware that he was arrested along with Robyn Hill. Joanna arrives in the room asking the heroes are they ready to work, she tells them that a large Grimm horde is hovering over the tundra and the people of Mantle are suck with no heat and no military protection, and while the Happy Huntresses are happy to give the heroes a place to lay low for the time being, the time came to give the people of Mantle help.

Ren asked how when Ironwood has stopped evacuations to Atlas, and with Salem’s forces surrounding them, they couldn’t get them out themselves, Joanna says that a crater beneath Atlas should suffice, even though it isn’t the safest route to go, she says the carter is warm that with all the people of Mantle in one place, they can do a better job protecting them. Joanna says that May Marigold can send the heroes where they are needed most, saying that they all have to get the people to the carter before nightfall, and that may have a chance in the slums.

“We’re never going to sleep again, I know it...” - Weiss Schnee “Either you’re helping, or you’re baggage...” - Joanna Greenleaf

While the plan was already being set in motion later on, Yang stands up and says to everyone that they have to go out and do what they can for Mantle, Ruby says that they need to do what they can for everyone, asking about Amity and telling the whole world about Salem and that they can’t do it all alone, needing help. Blake agrees saying that the Happy Huntresses are handling the evacuation better, saying there is a bigger picture.

Yang goes on the say that Amity isn’t complete yet, Ruby asks Pietro what would be needed to launch Amity, Pietro responds by saying that him and others made a progress with construction and fuel collection, which were all potentially manageable, however, it couldn’t be launch without clearance from Ironwood’s terminal, Yang tells Ruby that it’d be impossible for Ironwood to cooperate with them, Ruby says that he doesn’t have to and they just need the green light from his terminal, Yang questions Ruby about going back to the academy.

Pietro tells them at there are two terminals, one in Ironwood’s office and one in main Atlas Military Compound, in the base of the city, if they get in the compound in the operations room, which wasn’t certain, Oscar asks if this was the easy opinion.

Yang says that what Pietro is trying to say is that it can’t be done and it was pointless, telling Ruby that even if she were to somehow get the message out, there would be no guarantee help would come, Ruby snaps back at Yang and says it isn’t pointless, saying that Atlas is Salem’s current target, no longer being in hiding and once she’s done with Atlas, she’ll move on to the rest of Remnant, saying that they need to warn them.

Yang sighs and says to Ruby that when they arrived to Atlas, everyone said she would follow her lead, but things haven’t worked out, by everyone’s expression, deep down the feeling was mutual. Ren walks to the Ruby and says that there are people who need them now, which was something they could actually do, Ren decided to go with Yang later on, while Nora went with Ruby. Nora tells Ren that this isn’t about just Atlas, but about all of Remnant, agreeing with Ruby about warning the world of what’s coming, so they can prepare.

Jaune intervenes and says that they all can do both get Amity up and running and warn Mantle, Ruby then says that Salem has gotten this far by dividing them and that they have to stick together, Oscar disagrees and says what Salem really wants is to turn them against each other and that they can work separately and still be united.

Penny suggests that she could give the relic to Salem and hopefully call off her attack on the kingdom, Oscar says that they couldn’t trust Salem to actually do that and the moment she obtains the relic of creation, Atlas falls under Mantle. Yang says that no one is turning Penny in to anyone, that’s the one thing they can all agree on.

Ruby asks Pietro if he could helps to the terminal, but Penny intervenes and says, with the maiden flare in eyes that she’ll go with them instead, Before Yang walked out, Pietro toss a set of keys to the pharmacy to Yang, with a set of new tools inside of it. Nora tells Ren that she’s going with Ruby, Ren asked what about Mantle and Nora replied by saying she is saving Mantle, because she actually believes that she can do this.

So the teams are now set, one is Yang, Jaune, Ren and Oscar, the other is Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Nora. Blake tells Ruby that they still united, even if their separated. Maria says through Weiss’ communication com that she can fly in the airship and take Pietro to Amity to prepare, but she doesn’t know how we’re getting Ruby’s team to Atlas, however, Weiss had a idea for how they could, before she could tell her what it is, everyone got a call on their scrolls from Ironwood himself.

Penny answers the call and Ironwood says hello, he says that he’ll come pick Penny up right away if she tells him where she is, and that Atlas need her. Ruby was the one who responded to him and says that Penny isn’t going anywhere until he changes his mind about Mantle and there is still a chance for all of Remnant.

“Mantle...? You’re still worried about Mantle? Remnant is doomed, Ruby! Unless we leave, Salem will destroy Mantle and with it, any hope humanity has left. We need to think about that future...if she makes it through the defenses...everything that falls will be on your hands...” - James Ironwood

As Penny felt scared, Ruby embraced her with a hug.

Meanwhile, four of the Ace Operatives, Marrow Amin, Vine Zeki, Elm Ederne and Harriet Bree mourned the lost of their leader, Clover Ebi, who was killed by Tyrian, while Ironwood, with a new robotic arm was with Winter Schnee, who was in a hospital bed, bandaged up after her fight with Cinder.

An atlas guard notifies Ironwood that the prisoners had arrived, being Qrow and Robyn, Ironwood asks the doctors the give him and Winter the room, Winter says that she’ll be fine, but she could barely move her left arm and had a cast on the right. Ironwood then thanked Winter and that he wouldn’t know what to do without her, he says to her that no one has ever seen a Grimm force before, saying the city’s hard light shields will hold, but not for long.

Winter asked Ironwood what he would do, suddenly, Councilman Sleet and Councilwoman Camilla arrive, demanding answers from Ironwood as to what he was doing and why did he declared Martial Law, Ironwood answers Winter’s question by saying.... “I’m going to do everything I can defend this kingdom....no matter the cost....” - James Ironwood

Solidifying this vow, Ironwood walked out of the room, pulled out his gun and shot Councilman Sleet, possibly killing him, Camilla was shocked and afraid to even say a word afterwards, and all Winter could do was watch as Harriett looked back at her.

Meanwhile, Salem said to Jinn inside the relic that she had a question for her, she held the relic up to a Grimm to get the scent of Oscar, wanting it to bring him to her, so he could show her how to use the relic. ---------

With division and desperation all coming together in this chapter, what else can and will possible happened?

Will this volume be the heroes’ chance to united the world of Remnant or will this be repeat of Volume 3 filled with death and despair? Only time will tell.

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rwbyvein · 4 years ago

Text

Firen Lhain: Chapter 804: Phoenix: Part I / III

Fed, dressed, and caffeinated, RWBY + JNR sat around the table with their cards in their hand. A tiny noise could be heard.

"I do believe we are under attack." Ren voiced.

"You call that an attack?" Yang asked, "More like a cry for attention."

Ren's face was slightly judgemental before returning to a much more neutral look. "Indeed."

"Aurora?" Weiss asked.

"Mistress." Aurora affirmed, and walked passed the table to the staircase.

"Aurora was here?" Nora asked, "She's like always here."

"Indeed." Ren stated.

"Almost as much of a stalker as Ilia." Nora continued.

"That's your cue to come out." Blake said, and a Ilia returned to her ordinary colouration, appearing in the nude.

"Oh, shit, I mean, Hi Ilia, I mean?.." Nora tried to say.

"I assure you she meant no offence." Ren said from beside her.

"No." Ilia said. "I don't know why I would take offence. Honestly, I do have a terrible habit of stalking Jaune..."

"I wouldn't say terrible." Jaune said to her, and she looked at him with disbelief.

"Why Jaune?" Ruby asked her.

"Because he gives me strength?" Ilia asked, "How to describe it? He is solid."

"That he is." Yang added.

"Implacable." Ren added.

"And he is the one who has most taken me under his wing." Ilia stated.

"He has indeed done that." Weiss added.

"I'm so sorry..." Blake pleaded, but Ilia held up her hand. There was a pregnant silence as she breathed in deeply.

"You don't have to apologize." Ilia stated, "I know what I asked for. I know that you denied me. I know that you don't want to give me the false impression. I understand why you want to keep me at a distance. I'm following you because I don't have any other choice."

"You don't need to..." Blake tried to say.

"I'm not doing it because I don't have a choice." Ilia pleaded, "I just don't know what choice to make."

"She's here to learn how to choose?" Ruby asked.

"That seems a decent summary." Weiss stated.

"I fell for Adam." Ilia continued, "Not like Blake did, personally, no, I fell for him spiritually."

"Personally, she fell for Blake, right?" Nora asked. Ren sighed while placing a hand on her shoulder, letting out a grumbling affirmation.

"I know how toxic, and diseased, and destructive, and spiteful Adam is." Ilia said. "I just need help finding the difference between him, and what we thought he was."

"Which was?" Nora asked.

"Justice." Blake stated. Ilia nodded.

"Jaune might not be justice, but he his fairness." Ilia said, "And maybe that's what I need help with?" she asked.

"And for the record," Jaune interjected, "while she might - technically - be stalking me, like all the time, I actually count on it, nowadays."

"Indeed?" Weiss asked.

"Well, it has saved me a couple of times." Jaune said.

"He does have like a really good point." Yang added.

"Question?" Nora said, raising her hand, and everyone turned to look at her, "If Ilia gets to be naked, does that mean the rest of us get to be naked, or is she like special?"

Everyone looked at Jaune as he hung his head in his hands. He then breathed in deep as he looked at Nora. "You know what?, she is special." Jaune stated, and Nora seemed to accept that.

"Because it's for her Semblance?" Ruby asked, and Jaune nodded. "That makes sense."

"So?" Yang asked, "Just so we're clear, everyone can wear less clothes because of their Semblance, right?"

"From the girl wearing short-shorts and a tube top?" Blake asked.

"Didn't see you complaining." Yang replied.

"Not complaining." Blake voiced.

"Then what?" Nora asked.

"I believe," Ren interjected, "she is pointing out that Yang is already, shall we say, scandalously dressed?

"You judging, yo?" Yang asked him.

"Not in the slightest." Ren said with a smile.

"Sorry." Yang replied, "You're just like really hard to read. Still weird having Jaune staring at a naked woman who's not, you know, us?"

"I concur." Weiss stated. "Though I am perhaps not as well advised about relationships such as ours."

"Meaning?" Ruby asked.

"We're writing the rules as we go along." Blake stated.

"I'm pretty sure not staring at other naked women should be one of them." Yang added.

"It's not like he told her to get naked?" Ruby asked.

"Alright, true." Yang replied. She then looked at Ilia, "If she's going to be naked and not, you know, chameleon, could she pretend to have clothes?"

Ilia shifted to give the impression we was wearing a teddy with stockings, garters, and long gloves.

"I am not sure if that is any better." Weiss stated, "Jaune-dear seems to be even more enthralled."

"Maybe General Ironbutt can come up with something?" Yang asked, and everyone glared at her. "General Ironheart?"

"Implying he has heart?" Qrow said as he walked into the room, followed quickly by Aurora. "I think your little friend has something to say to you."

"Indeed." Aurora stated. "It seems Cinder would like to speak to you."

"About?" Weiss asked as the others quickly stood up. She found Jaune standing up, who effortlessly lifted her to a standing position.

"Everything." Aurora simply stated.

"And Yang?" Qrow asked.

"Yeah?" Yang replied.

"I like Tinman." Qrow said with a smile.

"Okay, yeah, but General Tinman sounds kind of weird." Yang stated.

"Perhaps mechanical onomatopoeia?" Weiss asked.

"General Clank." Blake added, as the group turned to the stairs.

"I like it." Yang said, and stepped towards the stairs, and then paused, looking at Ilia. "And naked-butt?"

"She does like stalking me." Jaune casually said as he reached the stairs, causing Yang to do a double take.

"Shit, man, now that you've got confidence, I don't know if we can keep up with you?" Yang asked.

"The secret," Weiss quipped said from a few paces behind him, "is to anticipate his movements and respond before he makes them."

"Uh-huh?" Yang asked, "It sounds like Little Bit is rubbing off on you."

"Perhaps she is?" Weiss said with a light blue hue.

* * *

RWBY + JNR + Qrow, Ilia, and Aurora walked out into the garden.

"We apologize!" Emerald shouted.

"She might," Mercury interjected, "but I'm not! You didn't exactly give us a choice!"

"What?!" Jaune harshly shouted, "Do you want?!"

"To talk, obviously!" Cinder snapped.

"Maybe a little less bitter and harsh." Mercury voiced.

Cinder glared him before looking back to the others, trying her best to smile. Jaune walked towards her. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Oh, you know?," Cinder asked, "everything you hoped and feared."

"And why the hell are you waiting until now?!" Yang shouted.

"Last resort." Cinder stated. "I has hoping to just disappear, but what I'm going to say here will ensure that Salem hunts us to the end of Remnant."

Jaune looked between everyone else, and they all looked back at him. He looked at Salem for a moment. "I want Neo here." he said.

"How could you?" Emerald asked, and Cinder's good hand flew up to silence her. "I'm sorry."

* * *

Jaune walked down the stairs with his thunderous footfalls. Taiyang and Raven quickly jumped to their feet, Raven trying her best to act innocuous. Jaune looked at them curiously before giving Neo a questioning look. Neo puckered up her lips and made smooching noises. Jaune looked at Tai and Raven before shrugging, and walked up to Neo.

"Alright, so, long story short, Cinder's going to spill the beans." Jaune said, and paused, letting it sink in. She then looked at him questioningly. "I want you there?" She gave him a double take and then looked at him like he was the dumbest person in the world. "Maybe?" he asked. And she gave a him a shocked look. "But I don't want to kill you?" he asked, and she gave him the same look once again. "Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to rip the cell bars off, and then I'm going to hug you, and if you're on your best behaviour, I'm going to tell you where we hid your possessions."

A hundred expressions passed Neo's face as she processed this information.

"Are you going to say anything?" Raven asked Taiyang.

"If it was up to me, they wouldn't have kept them in the first place." Taiyang nervously said. "I'm really just doing the best I can."

Jaune took a step towards the cell, and Neo's head snapped to him. Her conclusion was that he was obviously lying. Her faith waned slightly as he grabbed the first bar, and all of her senses failed her as he tore it off. Bars rained down behind him, bouncing around the room. Taiyang looked at them fearfully. Raven looked at them curiously. Neo had taken full leave of her senses, and it took some time for them to return. When they did she found herself in his arms, arms that seemed to encircle her completely. He then stepped away, and her thoughts had not caught up on her.

"Alright, so, the rules are simple, no trying to kill Cinder." Neo angrily protested. Jaune was turning away but paused and turned back, "Or Ruby." Neo angrily pouted.

"Well, whatever's happening," Raven said as Jaune turned around, "I think we should join the party." She then turned to follow Jaune.

"We both know how much of a party girl you are not." Taiyang said, turning to follow her. Raven tried to act angry but found herself smiling.

Everyone had arrived in the garden except Taj who was waiting in his airship, assuming that... something... was going to happen. Jaune walked into the centre of the garden, Neo trailing behind him, while on the other side Cinder walked in as well. It then started to rain.

"Oh, super!" Jaune shouted, "Don't I have such great luck!" he cried as the noise started reverberating off the walled garden.

"We can probably blame this one on me!" Qrow shouted.

#rwby #firen lhain #faunus au #pollinated knight

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snowe-zolynn-rogers · 4 years ago

Text

Pairings: None Yet

Word Count: 1,560 Words

Summary: Brunswick Farms isn't as safe as it seemed at first.

Warnings: Food Mention, Screaming Mention, Alcohol Mention, Drunk Mention Fighting Mention, Death mention, Nightmare Mention, let me know if I should tag anything else.

Shadows Are Made Of Light: Chapter 2

The house was quiet as everyone was there. Mercury had Oscar asleep against him, Yang, Blake, and Weiss sat in front of the fire and Ruby and Qrow were talking in the other room while Maria was reading still.

"It's like a diary. From the head of this household, Bartleby. Apparently, he and several other families founded this little settlement to try and live on their own. It sounds like it worked, at least for a spell." Maria explained.

"Grimm?" Mercury asked.

"Just one of many hardships. Slowed down their farming, made everything harder. It's a shame, really. He seemed like quite the ambitious fellow, always thinking of new schemes to overcome the odds." Maria smiled.

"Guys, Qrow said we should get some sleep. We're gonna head out early tomorrow." Ruby told them. Mercury motioned to Oscar currently asleep on him.

"Some of us already are on that." Mercury told her.

"Thank goodness." Yang muttered as everyone disregarded his statement and the three girls by the fire got up to walk elsewhere, Mercury didn't quite know where, probably to get blankets or something. Maria was muttering, getting up and moving to the chair next to a lamp, which she stubbornly turned on to continue reading.

Mercury wasn't sure when he fell asleep, only that he woke up holding Oscar, who was curled up to him like a little kid. It made him feel far too protective over this little farm boy, especially when he looked even younger while he was asleep.

"Good morning, silver boy." Maria greeted him, smirking as she shook Oscar a bit. "Time to wake up, little boy." Maria told Oscar.

"Auntie, ten more minutes." Oscar mumbled.

"I'm not your aunt and it's time to wake up, farm boy." Maria told him.

"Oz, gimme ten minutes." Oscar whined and Mercury laughed at the thought of Ozpin trying valiantly to wake a stubbornly tired farmhand to no avail.

"Hm?" Oscar looked up at him with sleepy eyes still. "Oh, sorry." Oscar let him go and let him up.

"You're fine." Mercury ruffled through the kid's hair. "Actually, I don't think we've really truly met yet." Mercury realized.

"I'm Oscar Pine, Ozpin's newest reincarnation." The kid told him.

"Mercury Black." He smiled at the kid as the girls seemed to filter awake after Ruby woke up and scolded her hungover uncle about their oversleeping.

Everyone seemed tired, Mercury quickly caught on that he and Ruby seemed to be the only ones retaining the majority of their energy. It was weird being in a position where he and Ruby were agreeing as they pushed the team to move forward.

"If we're all so tired, maybe we should make breakfast?" Blake suggested.

"You wanna make it?" Oscar asked.

"Not really." Blake answered.

"I'll make it." Mercury told them, fed up and marching into the house and into the pantry, grabbing a few cans and making an easy breakfast from the cans of spam and pre-cut veggies he found, bringing the pot, bowls, and silverware outside to practically force everyone's energies up.

"I'm not as good a cook as Neo but if you don't eat and stop bickering like three year olds for like five minutes, I will go insane and just start waking to Argus by myself and I will take Oscar and Maria with me." He snapped, handing a bowl to Oscar before moving on until everyone was eating and quiet.

"This is actually good." Yang remarked.

"Just spam and vegetables I found." He told her, eating his own breakfast.

"Make this again in Argus." Yang told him.

"Sure." He agreed, taking in the silence between the argument and happily enjoying that silence, where he could practically hear the soft snow hitting the ground lightly. He also enjoyed the fact that they apparently liked his cooking enough to consider keeping him around their group for it.

"You guys got the bike ready?" Ruby asked, sounding tired.

Mercury sighed as he gathered the finished bowls and took them back to clean in the house while they got ready to leave, he didn't want to hear this fight. he didn't want Ruby to succumb like the others but she was starting to sound exhausted too.

But, inevitably, he found himself back outside with Oscar and Maria, watching the fight over whether they were really going to go to Atlas or not unfold. The lamp, that lamp he knew absolutely nothing about. Ruby was dangling it over he well and he felt a surge of fear in his throat.

She screamed and dropped the lamp inside at something, which prompted Mercury to scream 'NO' at the action, coming to the well and looking over the edge of it and giving a groan when all he saw was darkness.

"No, no, no! I didn't mean to!" Ruby cried out, holding her head.

"Ruby, it's okay." Weiss tried.

"No! No, there's something down there, I saw its eyes, it was looking at me!" Ruby told them. Mercury looked for anything that could be eyes but came up with nothing.

"It's okay, you said you're tired. It's probably nothing. Now, let's go." Yang told her sister.

"What's wrong with you!? We can't just leave! We have to go down there! We have to get the lamp back! What was I thinking?" Ruby insisted.

"All we have to do is fix this trailer." Qrow drunkenly slurred. "Hey farm boy, check the shed for a spare." Qrow insisted. Mercury growled but ignored him.

"I'm not leaving without the lamp!" Ruby insisted.

"I'll go down with you." Mercury offered.

"We'll go down together." Weiss agreed.

"Fine, get the stupid lamp. Oscar, fix the stupid tire." Qrow began walking toward the house, past everyone.

"Where are you going?" Maria asked.

"Where do you think?" Qrow asked.

"Stupid." Maria remarked as Qrow went off to get even more drunk before she sat down to begin to read again.

Water was around him when he got down, Mercury very much didn't like. Water messed with his legs but he wasn't letting Ruby go down alone with her bunch of pessimistic friends. Ruby was leading the way with her flashlight, Mercury following her and ready to fight when Blake pointed out the glowing of the lamp a few feet away.

Ruby ran to get it only to come back screaming, with the lamp thankfully, and followed by the most frightening Grimm he'd ever seen before they let out a piercing shriek and Mercury felt his ears and eyes burn at it. His legs felt too heavy to move suddenly and he had no way of fighting.

"Run! Now!" Maria called, leading them, Mercury following his best, hearding the girls away and keeping them together, flinching when the inevitable next group of Grimm let out that shriek while Ruby and him began leading the team out and to hopeful safety but only ended up in the basement of the house again.

Maria was trying to get them to the exit, or at least usher Mercury and Ruby to it to free everyone of this nightmare, but he could barely get up onto his hands and knees. Blake was passing out, he heard Ruby trying to talk to her. He felt the room light up and he felt their influence dampen as Ruby got Blake away from them and Yang and Weiss went to break open the doors.

But the next shriek incapacitated even Ruby, but he was still standing, stubbornly standing. He wasn't scared of these things, even if they were nightmare fuel. He finally had people to lose again and he refused to lose them all in a day.

"Don't think about them." Maria told him, dragging his focus away from those exhausting monsters. "Think about the people who love you. Focus on the thought of them and the way they make you feel." She encouraged. Emerald. Neo. Maria. Yang. Oscar. Chrome.

"Life is beautiful. It is precious. And it must be protected." Maria recited like an ominous chant. He felt his eyes burn as he opened them, the room becoming alight with the brightest white light he'd ever seen.

Suddenly the Grimm were controlled, were dead. And Yang could bust out the door and they all went rushing from the basement, Ruby dragging Qrow along kicking and screaming as Yang ran to get the bike started and Weiss set the basement on fire.

Ruby and Weiss were dragging Qrow while Mercury hurriedly got Oscar onto the cart, protecting him from those horrible things. He didn't need to see them, this kid didn't need any nightmares of them.

They were a good yard away when Maria explained what they were, the Apathy. A Grimm that drained your energy to go on, explained how they came to be there. It made him shiver, but this time it wasn't from the cold.

Then the apologies began rolling in. Mercury didn't pay attention to that, he didn't care for them apologizing to each other because he wasn't involved so he chose to ignore it in favor of trying to figure out what happened in that basement still.

"Miss Calavera? How do you know so much about the Grimm? And in the tunnels, you knew exactly what to say. How?" Ruby asked her.

"Well, wasn't it obvious from the start, girl?" Maria laughed. "I had silver eyes."

#rwby #mercury black #oscar pine #yang xiao long #blake belladonna #weiss schnee #ruby rose #qrow branwen #maria calavera #snoweywrites #tw food mention #tw screaming mention #tw alcohol mention #tw drunk mention #tw fighting mention #tw death mention #tw nightmare mention #shadows are made of light au

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wu-sisyphus-gang · 4 years ago

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Motion Sickness Chapter 38

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"How long are you going to follow me, you mute bitch?" With her teleportation and illusions there wasn't much I could do about it. We both knew if it came down to it I'd win, though. I'd shown that earlier. But she could escape anytime she wanted so I couldn't chase after her and end it. I could activate my semblance and smash her around with my strength or speed and win by standing still.

But only by standing still.

I walked past a billboard proclaiming Mercury Black, Emerald Sustrai, Cinder Fall, Hazel Rainart, and the Scorpion as wanted. My friends lived. I'd go spy on them later, when Neapolitan wasn't watching. Just to check up on them. Then I'd head my separate way.

She rapidly poked one finger through a loop in the other hand. "Fuck," I interpreted. She pointed at me. "Myself."

She clapped her hands giddily in her approval and her eyes switched colors.

"I need money," I muttered. "And a new scroll. I don't suppose you have any ideas."

She reached out into an illusion and retrieved a red brimmed hat.

"Ones that don't involve Ruby. I really seriously don't know where she is."

She looked like she didn't believe me, eyebrows furrowed.

"Well tough shit. Unless you want to go another round." She rubbed her chest where I hit her. "I'd be all for that."

She just frowned.

"Fair enough," I said. "Why do you even want to find Ruby?"

She drew a line over her throat and fondled the red and black hat.

"You want revenge for Roman Torchwick."

She nodded.

"Ruby didn't kill your boss." I dropped the harsh news on her.

She cocked her head sideways at me as we walked together through Mistral. It was… it was actually nice to have someone to talk to. Talk at, even. Otherwise I'd be alone with my thoughts and that just wouldn't be good for me. I was still wishy-washy on ending my own life.

I deserved it too. I wanted to die for what I'd done to my friends. I was the culprit, the thief in the night who robbed them of the opportunity of ever being 'together, together.'

At least they were together in death, now.

"A Grimm got him," she frowned up at me at that. "You can't even get revenge." I laughed. "You poor bitch. Not that I'm any better." Who was I supposed to kill in my hunt for vengeance now? Me. And believe me I was thinking of ways of getting to that son of a bitch. Unfortunately he was running out of friends.

An alien goddess had control over my mind. I was little more than a puppet under the right circumstances. I suppose if I had been like a puppet, all uncoordinated, Ren and Nora might have had a chance at subduing me. Instead I'd acted more or less fluid. That was a little scarier. Or a lot.

She smashed one fist into the other.

"If you were going to kill me you would have done it back at the bar. Don't act. You can't pull it off. Not while I'm awake and I assure you I'll be on my guard while sleeping. You won't get it done then either, not with my aura level."

She gave me an adorable pout. Her pink lips pressed together and out. Her pink and brown hair flowing over her shoulders.

"I know how you feel. I need revenge against Cinder. You know her? Cinder Fall?"

Her grin stretched.

"Don't tell me you want to kill her too? Did she get your boss killed? Set him up?"

She nodded.

"That's as good as killing him, I suppose. I think we may be able to help each other. Ruby really didn't kill him. Ruby doesn't have it in her to kill somebody. She always goes out of her way to avoid it."

She frowned and pointed at me.

"She's not like me. I'm a murderous asshole."

She shook her head indicating I'd guessed wrong and pointed at me again.

"What about me?"

She rotated one finger next to her head.

"I am crazy. Don't even get me started. If nothing else I'm suicidally insane. And that doesn't even get to these bugs in my eyes."

She pantomimed doing a line of hyper. Pinching one side of her nose and breathing in.

"I'm not on anything. I'm just fucked up."

She touched the tips of opposite forefingers together.

"What's that mean? It's not the same thing."

We walked in two-sided silence for a few minutes down a rainy street.

"You know where somebody with a loose moral compass can make some money around here relatively fast?"

She pointed a thumb over her shoulder back at Malachite's bar.

"Yeah, I sorta burned that bridge. And it can't involve Don Corneo. I had him tortured. Killed a bunch of his men, too."

Her smile widened looking up at me.

"Oh is that how you get your jollies?"

She just grinned up at me.

"Well I suppose we could just do official huntsman work. That's always lucrative."

She pointed a finger between us.

"Yeah I thought you were following me. That makes it an us. Keep up. Plus I just might be your best shot at murdering Fall. I almost fuckin' had her. And I might know where she's headed next."

She looked at me in surprise.

"Yep. Her and Black, too. Fought them relatively recently."

She put a hand to her mouth and silently laughed at me.

"Yeah they lived. Go ahead and giggle. Next time I'll get one of them. At least one of them. Well, Cinder has the powers of the spring maiden now. It might be even harder than before."

She gave me a confused look. Hell, who was she going to tell? She was… easy to talk to besides. I wasn't sure if it was the muteness but it might be.

"It's a whole thing. Ancient powers passed along person to person. Myths and legends. It's fucking bullshit is what it is. Girls only club. So maybe you could get in on that action."

She silently snorted, full of doubt. A little air escaping her nose.

"It's true. You can be the one to fight her and find out the hard way or you can take my word for it. She's even more dangerous now. And she was already a heaping pile of it before. I surprised her yesterday and I'm only getting stronger from what I've seen but she just added a big helping of power to herself."

She pointed at herself then smashed one fist into her open palm to indicate violence.

"Could you beat her?"

She nodded. Letting me know I'd guessed right.

"Maybe. Maybe before but probably not now. You'd be in serious trouble. I'd be in serious trouble." I let that sink in, I was able to beat this ice-cream girl and if I was not able to beat Cinder that only meant she wouldn't be able to either.

She made a complicated series of gestures.

"I didn't get that. But it doesn't matter, does it?"

She just frowned at me and I strode forward. She was practically jogging to keep up and I had no intention of slowing down.

The relic jingled by my side as I walked.

"You know maybe it can involve Don Corneo. You up for stealing from a mob boss? It might involve torture and death. I could use someone with your talents."

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Some broken limbs and I learned the news (Neapolitan had clapped at that). Don Corneo was holed up in his mansion with a whole lot of guards and probably a whole lot of money. Evidently he hadn't taken being tortured very well.

Go figure.

Neapolitan or just Neo was working beside me and honestly it felt good to have somebody watching my back, even if they were criminal scum. Which, I mean, beggars couldn't be choosers from their glass houses.

I needed a pseudonym. I could hardly keep calling myself Jaune Arc even though my weapon and face would be recognizable. I needed a haircut and makeover and a new name. I had to hide from my friends as much as it bit at me.

I was lucky they hadn't reported me to the police. The wounds on Nora and Ren's bodies would be unmistakable as coming from my weapon.

More importantly I needed the money to do all that. I was a long ways away from hopping on a horse and riding out to Merlot's laboratory, as much as I may want to. Instead I needed to stay in the city for a while.

That meant laying low and coming up with a heist. I needed money. Enough that I didn't have to worry about it for a long time.

I was struggling to come up with a new name for myself. That was always the hardest part. Names. I thought that as I broke one of Don Corneo's lackeys' fingers.

Neo and I had him tied down in a hotel room on the lower levels. It was dirt cheap and nobody would ask any questions. Especially if we left no body behind.

He screamed into a gag and it came out muffled. Nickel was the name we managed to get out of him.

"Shshsh." I told him. "You're going to tell me the security details on Don Corneo's mansion or I'm going to break every last bone in your body. If you scream I'll hurt you even more than that. Are we clear? Everything goes well and you get to walk on out of here. You might have to find a new boss but that doesn't really matter compared to your life, does it?"

He seemed to realize I was actually waiting for a response and gave a slow shake of his head. I nodded at Neo and she pulled out the gag.

"Now, what's the security look like?"

"He's going to kill you for this, he's going to-"

Neo gave a lecherous grin and stabbed him through the foot. Who was this guy fooling? He didn't even have aura. There was no way the Don cared about him a Lien. Not that we cared considering we were planning to rob him blind. She covered his mouth with the other hand, not that we really needed to down here per se, and looked him in the eye.

Her gaze flickered out like a hungry lizard's tongue to meet his eyes and devour all of the pain therein.

"Boy you don't even have aura. I can fix that for you. Unlock your aura and make it all go away." He was older than me, probably by a few years. Might be twenty-one, twenty-two. I watched him consider it. Aura was a game changer. A kid like him had to know what it meant, what it could mean. It'd mean a pay raise if nothing else. It meant increased survivability. It meant the power to fight back against those dastardly huntsmen.

"I can make the pain go away too. It'll heal you right up, even your broken fingers." They were tied behind his back. Nice and easy within snapping distance. "What's it going to be, my man."

"Fuck you, I ain't your man."

I broke another one of his fingers. Neo stuffed the gag back in his mouth while he screamed.

"We're not making much headway with this one. Might have to kill him and grab a fresh one. Start over." I said it clinically to Neo. Her eyes went wide at the thought of the violence. I even thought maybe the tips of her breasts were protruding more than before from the excitement. She gave a silent laugh and I hoped it was just my imagination. For my part I didn't have a carnage boner.

A murder erection I distinctly did not have. I wasn't a sadist. Just a pragmatist.

I had to admit there was a bit of an endorphin rush at the thought of snapping this guy's neck, though. With Neo's semblance we'd just walked up and grabbed him from the mansion and we'd walked away, under the cover of an illusion.

Suddenly I had some symptoms come at me and I blinked hard at the tactile sensation of bugs in my eyes until they stopped. Nerves firing which shouldn't have been.

"I'm thinking maybe we just hammer the place. Go all in and kill everyone in our way," I said. "Your thoughts, Neapolitan?"

She stamped a foot.

"Beg your pardon, I meant Neo." I hadn't but she seemed content to insist on it now that I'd figured it out. I took it as a good sign.

"M-m-m. M-m-m." Came from under the gag.

"Sorry, do you have friends in there? Some buddies perhaps?"

Neo pulled the gag out of his mouth. Nickel spat on the floor, very much not in our directions. He didn't want another broken finger was what that told me.

"You'll never make it like that. The Don has a safe room. A panic vault. You'll never get in and get what you want that way."

"And you've telling us this now because…"

"I want a cut. He's got millions stashed away. A-and I want my aura unlocked... And I walk free."

So that's how it is. Money talks, money talks. Apparently louder than broken bones could.

"Tell me about this panic room."

"It's got Titania walls and big electric locks."

"What kind?"

"The fuck should I know? It's like you see in bank vaults though. His office is in there. Or at least it is now they moved it from the second floor. He's been paranoid. There's been talk."

"Talk about how somebody got to him." I nodded. I put my face in his. "Somebody did. I'm going to do it again."

"It was you. It was you at the Honey Bee Inn." His brown eyes went wide.

"Maybe. Tell me about the mansion."

"It's built with choke points in mind. And places we're supposed to go to to lay down fire if there's an assault. It's all built around this central courtyard, too. It has mines in the walls, explosives at every corridor. They can be remotely activated by the Don. The whole place is booby-trapped. It’s supposed to be huntsman proof.”

“Nothing is actually huntsman proof."

He shrugged but the fact he was panting hard ruined the illusion of calm. "Couldn't say."

"Talk to me about the patrols you were on.”

“They’re fairly strict about it. Somebody will have noticed I’m gone, even. Every hour on the hour and through the center courtyard. Around the building, too.”

“How many?”

“A hundred of us at a given time, maybe."

A hundred could be a problem. Especially if they had proper choke points and the right hardware. Hard light weapons or magnetically accelerated rifles were huntsman level. There were also electric weapons which I was sure could find Neo, invisible or not. I'd seen Neptune use one. An explosion could also take me down. Limit was good but I wasn't invincible.

"Aura?"

"Some of us have it, some of us don't. The Don hasn't been in a position to be picky about his men. Not with his empire crumbling under pressure to the Malachites."

I leaned back and folded my arms. I exchanged looks with Neo. She flickered in and out of the visible spectrum and warbled a hand.

"Might be too many to just walk in to. Plus the explosives. They gonna be a problem for you?"

She waved her hand again.

"Samesies," I grunted.

I had him walk me through the layout of the place in enough detail that I was able to draw a map of the first and second floor. The panic office was on the bottom floor. A big, heavy thing like that couldn't be above ground.

Neo gave me a pleading look and I nodded. She walked behind Nickel and she bent down like she was going to untie him. Giving him one last shred of hope before she snapped up and slit his throat. I watched her take extreme pleasure in doing it.

She shuddered with the living corpse as his lifeblood drained soundlessly onto the floor. She looked ecstatic in the company of death. A low narrow smile on her lips.

It was clear to me. I just needed to give her lots of targets. It seemed like it had been a long time since she was able to indulge in such things. Heists. Murder. All of it. Money must trickle. The blood must flow.

Most importantly I needed to keep her focused on Cinder rather than Ruby. I think the message was starting to sink in but she could relapse. Besides, I wanted Cinder to die and another body wouldn't hurt.

I just needed to make sure she didn't run out of her little pleasures and it seemed to me like I'd have a loyal ally. Underneath it all it seemed like she was just lonely and scared. Especially without her boss. I think there was a part of her that liked taking orders.

And weren't we all like all that? I was like that without Ruby for one. I wasn't sure she would approve of this but she probably didn't approve of me murdering our friends either so there was that.

Neo didn't seem so bad. A bit of a sadist but hey, me too. There was a part of me that took sick pleasure in bringing ruin to my enemies. There was a sideways joy in delivering a boot to their faces.

And my friends… if I ever saw them again they'd have to understand. I did what I had to to find out about Merlot… this… my father. I had so many memories. Like visiting Shion. We're they all fake? I had to learn more about myself. If I had to shake hands with a few demons to make it happen then big fucking whoop.

Neo looked at the blood on her stiletto and wiped it off on the Nickel's clothes.

I could work with this. I could live with this. I just needed to throw away my pride.

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-WG

#neapolitan #Jaune Arc #Rwby #ff7 #ffvii #motion sickness #war of the roses #white rose #whiterose #whiteknight #white knight #lancaster #ruby rose x jaune arc x weiss schnee

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kitkatopinions · 4 years ago

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Accidentally deleted my Tyrian and Watts asks while I was trying to fix a mistake so... Sorry about that, everyone! Here they are! Tyrian and Watts for the RWBY character asks!

Let’s do Tyrian first, because I have less to say about him, I feel like.

My top three ships for the character

Tyrian/Watts. Dysfunctional villainous romance of the century, no one knows how they’ve managed to make it to their tenth anniversary without killing each other, including them. Tyrian/Salem is my second top ship for him. Major Bellatrix/Voldy vibes with this one, but I could see it. Tyrian/Hazel is my third ship for lack of options. Does this one make sense? No. But I can at least see Tyrian being super flirty and Hazel being endlessly tired, but never really stopping it. (Also I hate Hazel so much lol.)

My three least favorite ships for the character

Tyrian/Qrow sucks for me. Like... I kinda feel like two people fighting each other just gets shippers, which is fine and totally understandable. But for me, Tyrian poisoning Qrow and almost killing him and calling his beloved niece a bitch and then killing Clover is a big no from me, dog. On that note! Tyrian/Clover is also one big no from me, since Clover murdered him. And Tyrian/Ozpin is another really big no from me. Tyrian and his crazy Salem worship can stay five hundred and fifty feet away from my son.

My biggest criticism for the character

They went a little too much on the crazy in the fourth and fifth season and it made him feel annoying. Like, I don’t mind the Bellatrix vibes, but I do mind the movie version Bellatrix vibes, sometimes. It just got kinda annoying. I wish his crazy was always more on the dangerous side and less on the kooky side, but that’s just personal opinions.

My favorite thing about the character

The way people are so uncomfortable around him. Whenever Tyrian talks to Emerald or Mercury, he’s honestly freaky. Like both me and the characters are waiting for him to snap. That’s a great quality in a villain that we’re meant to hate or love to hate. He has a real presence and it’s enjoyable.

A headcanon I have about them

Tyrian doesn’t often try to act normal, but he can, and he’s got a great ‘respectable, cool guy’ act that’s actually a little reminiscent of Qrow or Clover. He’s even passed himself as a Huntsman here and there.

What I would change about them if I was making a re-write

More involvement in volumes 4 and 5, and I’d treat him a bit more seriously and make him a bit more dangerous. Maybe I’d have him wound a member of Team RNJR in his attack as well as poison Qrow (maybe give Jaune a reason to unlock his semblance in season 4 and in response to the pain of a member of his team. Also, his ‘Tyrian purple’ color should be more than just the color of his eyes. Like, how come so many RWBY characters season 4 and onward have such boring colors? I’d give Tyrian some strong purple and pink.

What I I think of their character allusion and what (if anything) I would change about it

Tyrian alludes to the animal fable ‘the Scorpion and the Frog,’ and that’s... really in name only, I think. A part of me wants to give them some kind of points for having Qrow work with him against Clover, only for Tyrian to kill Clover, which lines up with his ‘its just my nature’ scorpion stinging the frog so that they’ll both drown and die. But they didn’t mean for Qrow to really be wrong! They didn’t mean for the lesson to be ‘Qrow shouldn’t have trusted the poisonous villain’ it was ‘wowza does Qrow’s semblance hurt him. :( Too bad Clover got himself killed.’ Which makes the whole allusion kind of suck.

Now for Watts, the single best villain in my opinion.

My top three ships for the character

Tyrian/Watts. See above. This ship would be a dysfunctional mess, but it’d be a wild ride. Watts/Villain!Ironwood. I kind of hate this ship when it’s ‘fallen hero turned villain’ Ironwood. But if he actually had been written as a secret villain or obviously headed that way from the start, I can see him and Watts also being a dysfunctional mess of a wild ride ship, only with way more ‘evil power couple’ vibes than Tyrian and Watts would have. Also my favorite version of this features Watts having been the one to build Penny (maybe by stealing the plans from Pietro) and him and Ironwood raising a still bright and cheerful, still innocent and trusting, villain Penny who will attack to kill with a smile on her face and a ‘it was nice meeting you!’ And this is very weird and niche but Watts/Evil Stepsister (specifically the one with the sharp bangs and highlights.) Someone sent me an ask saying the Evil Stepmother and stepsisters should’ve been connected to Salem and gotten Cinder involved and I totally agree with this. I then started envisioning a world where the step sisters competed with Cinder and all three of them were raised in Salem’s circle. In this version of things, I could totally picture one of the step sisters having a romantic tension driven connection with Watts and the two of them subtly flirting sometimes (and bonding over their mutual hatred of Cinder.) I picked the sister with bangs for no real reason except that I like her look more.

My three least favorite ships for the character

Watts/Cinder. Watts thinks of her like a bratty little girl, and Cinder kills him. Watts/Lionheart. Kinda really hate this one because of how clearly Lionheart was terrified of him. Just a bit uncomfortable for me to see that in a relationship. Watts/Hero!Ironwood or Watts/HeroTurnedVillain/Ironwood. Sorry, but Ironwood in canon got such a bad, bad portrayal in season 8 and the end of season 7, and I just can’t help but blame Watts for quite a bit of it. I only like them as a ship if Ironwood is an antagonist from the start.

My biggest criticism for the character

They shouldn’t have killed him! He was one of Salem’s best followers and one of the best villains and it was such a big mistake to kill literally one of the only actual loyal followers. It threw off any character development for Cinder and it was a big mistake. I really wanted the Cinder / Watts / Neo team up to keep going! I’m so disappointed it got thrown away.

My favorite thing about the character

Watts is an entitled, petty bastard, and I think that’s so good for a villain that isn’t meant to be social commentary (because tbh, RWBY never should’ve tried to be social commentary.) Watts isn’t sympathetic, he’s an Atlas born and raised guy in a three piece suit, he’s posh, he’s upset because he wasn’t given exactly what he wanted. Most of the villains in RWBY are either victims of abuse, systemic oppression, or poverty, and that’s... Not fun in a show that’s never handled social commentary well and is about magical girls destroying Voldemort/Satan with the power of friendship (Ruby literally never says anything about Faunus rights iirc.) Watts is refreshing because he’s exactly the type of villain that you can expect in a show like what RWBY should’ve been, and he flourishes as that. Why would we be sympathetic to Watts when he’s just doing this all because he wasn’t picked first for his tech? Why would we feel soured towards conflicts with Watts and Team RWBY? He’s just a petty bastard being evil because he was snubbed. Why would we be frustrated that incredibly significant problems are being shoved to the side with Watts? He’s a fun villain, he’s not meant to be more, he’s not meant to make you emotionally invested only to then be gutted for it. You can hate to love him without it feeling bad. Maybe that’s why he’s just my favorite non-kid villain (other than Roman.)

A headcanon I have about them

Watts has been trying to build his own AI robot like Penny, in his spare time. He wanted it to be done in time to become a Maiden, but it wasn’t, and Salem gave that slot to Cinder and got after Watts for not contributing enough. He of course thought this was deeply unfair (especially after being made to contribute a lot to Cinder’s Beacon success without getting any credit for it.) And this just fueled his hatred of Cinder, his hatred of Pietro and Ironwood, and by extension, his hatred of Penny.

What I would change about them if I was making a re-write

I would keep him freaking alive and keep up the pair up he had going on with Cinder and Neo! But also I’d increase his relationships with Emerald, Mercury, Tyrian, Hazel... Just some more Salem’s Inner Circle moments to flesh out their characters. Other than that, I wouldn’t change much. He’s a pretty good character.

What I I think of their character allusion and what (if anything) I would change about it

Okay, I’ve talked about his character allusion in a very long post awhile ago, but I’m not scrolling down that far to tag it. To sum it up... I hate his allusion. XD I loved the Sherlock Holmes books and read most of them, and I didn’t realize he was supposed to allude to John Watson until I read someone else’s post saying so, and I started freaking out about how awful it was. Watts has so little in common with Watson, he’s essentially the anti-Watson. Which basically means he’s Sherlock Holmes, the opposite of Watson in almost every way, up to and including freaking faking his death which is one of the most iconic Sherlock Holmes thing ever. Watts is everything Sherlock Holmes is on his worst days, arrogant, callous, consumed with his projects, petty, smug, over the top - as well as being hyper intelligent and a genius who often just gets passed over. He has rivalries with his colleagues like Holmes did. And like I said, he faked his death, only to reveal himself to an old friend later on the cusp of carrying out a scheme. He’s evil Holmes! He has nothing to do with John Watson - caring, humble, down to earth, not brilliant like his friend but content to be ordinary and special because of his emotional depth and devoted heart, medical former doctor who spends quite a lot of time chronicling the successes of someone else because he’s content to live in the background. Don’t get me wrong, a ‘Watson’ character who is evil could work - Watson himself indulged in crime for the sake of Holmes sometimes in the original works and if he worshipped Salem or one of her followers and did everything for her while still being a more humble, more friendly, not brilliant person he could be good - but Watts is not that person. Even the gimmicks Watts is given are stupid and don’t make it obvious he’s Watson. Boy’s got a moustache and a revolver and they thought that’d be enough. Idk why they thought 'we’ll make him Watson’ when he’s clearly a Holmes! Also, he’s supposed to be ‘Watson if he’d met Moriarty instead of Holmes,’ and to that I say boo! Watson wouldn’t turn into a super genius just because he meets a different mastermind!

...That’s summing up my feelings, yeah. Because I have so many feelings about his warped, weird character allusion. If I was changing it, I’d just make him Holmes like I think he was clearly supposed to be.

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theladypeace · 4 years ago

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Got any more evil Oscar Headcanons

Evil Oscar Headcanons

You bet your ass I do

- Before everything went down, Ironwood had noticed how distant Oscar was from everyone. He had assumed that it was because Oscar was the youngest and least experienced.

- he tried bonding with Oscar, but he had only irritated Oscar even more. James had offered him hot chocolate often because Oz liked it, he asked him questions only Oz knew, etc.

- Oscar pretended to be friends with James instead of snapping no matter how badly he wanted to.

- Oscar’s new parents are Tyrian and Arthur. His new siblings are Cinder and Neo (and probably Emerald and Mercury if he meets them).

- Tyrian and Watts actually got so close to Oscar that they started treating him like a son.

- Oscar doesn’t like Long Memory because it’s a constant reminder of Ozpin, so Tyrian is teaching him how to use scimitar curved swords.

- Oscar knows sign language and Neo was so excited when she found out. They talk shit about Cinder right in front of her.

- Everyone has been concerned for Oscar. He isolates himself from the group, is barely around, and he seems to have stopped taking care of himself.

- Oscar either ignores qrwbyjnr or has an attitude when talking to them. He even picks fights and throws insults at the group.

- Oscar is very much visibly tired. He has dark circles under his eyes and he stays up in the middle of the night. Sometimes he just stares at the wall or ceiling while in bed.

- His teammates have noticed Oscar’s obvious weight loss. Ren starts cooking and baking food for Oscar and he leaves it with him. Ren, Jaune, and Nora come back to find the plate still there. Sometimes Oscar only takes a few bites and other times he just throws it in the trash can for them to see.

- After Qrow punched him into a tree and Jaune pinned him against a wall, bruises have formed on Oscar’s face and back. He refuses to let Jaune heal him because he doesn’t trust Jaune anymore and he wants the people who caused those bruises to look at it and feel bad.

- Oscar is what he calls the “third party”. He’s not with qrwbyjnr, but he’s not with Salem either. He’s playing both sides, making both sides think he’s loyal to them, but his only loyalty is to himself and only himself.

- After meeting Cinder and Neo, Oscar returned back to the Schnee Manor fast enough to find Jacques Schnee being interrogated by Ironwood, the council, Robyn, and Winter. Rwbyjnor were called into the dining room and later ordered to go to Mantle when grimm began to attack.

- Oscar stayed behind and he was planning on telling James everything about Oz, so he could get James on the path of paranoia and fear. but then he bumped into Ruby and she agreed that they should tell him. This only helped his plan. Ruby obviously still trusted him and now no one would question why Oscar told Ironwood everything.

- Oscar is scared of Salem. He wants nothing to do with her, he only worked with her people to mess with qrwbyjnr.

- Now that Salem is here, I think Oscar would go solo.

- perhaps he would play with his enemies’ minds. Oscar would anger Hazel and bring up his dead sister, Gretchen. He might bring up Ozpin to Qrow in order to upset and confuse him.

- Ozpin is back which means he can take control of Oscar. Oscar knows this. He’s strong enough to keep Oz at bay, but he worries that if he falls asleep, Oz will take over.

- so Oscar stays wide awake and ignores Ozpin’s concerns.

- FANFIC TIME 👇

- “You need to rest,” Ozpin keeps telling him.

- Oscar groaned. “I miss it when you were quiet.”

- “Oscar.”

- “Piss off,” Oscar mumbles. He stops walking for a moment. He tries standing up straighter, using Long Memory as support. Guess getting chased by an Anime-looking tiny woman and Atlas guards, then getting shot off a cliff takes a lot out of you. Oscar sighed and kept walking.

- “Why are you doing this, Oscar?”

- “Why? Did you see what they did to me?” Oscar then scoffed, “I guess you wouldn’t know since you left me all alone for months.”

- “I’m truly sorry about that. I shouldn’t have left you.”

- “But you did,” Oscar replied in a snarl. “I didn’t even know who I was anymore. I still don’t. I just want to go back to my farm, be with my aunt, sleep in my bed.”

- “I’m sorry.”

- “Doesn’t matter anymore.” Oscar looked up at the sky. Thunder and lighting and shadows came closer to Atlas. “I just need to figure out what to do now.”

#rwby #oscar pine #evil oscar pine #villain!oscar pine #rwby headcanons #ozpin #tyrian callows #arthur watts #nuts and volts #cinder fall #neopolitian #jnor #jnr #james ironwood #salem #long post

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calliecat93 · 4 years ago

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I don’t think it’s incorrect to say that Cinder Fall is one of the most divisive characters in the series. From my experience, she was liked well enough in Volumes 1-4, and people were interested in her character. But as time went on with her getting less focus, any focus being on her just wanting to power, much of her original threat level slowly going down, and just so many questions going unanswered, people began to turn on her. Last volume was when interest seemed to get reignited, and it had people asking one question: were we finally on our way to getting a Cinder Fall backstory? Well my friends, the clock has struck. The spell has broken, and it’s time to see Cinder as she truly is.

Overview

Remember when the volume began with us seeing a young Cinder scrubbing floors? Well we get that again, but this time with much more detail. We see Cinder living on a farm, scrubbing floors and being bullied by other children. It’s not clear if she’s in an orphanage or a slave, but regardless we hear a woman say that she’ll take her. We cut to a city and Cinder is before a glamorous hotel, being led inside by her new stepmother. She’s lead to the back, also meeting her new stepsisters which if you’re familiar with Cinderella, you can already tell where this is going. Indeed, Cinder is forced to clean, serve guests, be given barely any food, and bullied by her stepsisters. She even resorts to eating the meals meant for guests just because she’s starving that badly. We also briefly get a new song that I... think is being sung by Casey? I couldn’t fully tell, but it is the definition of belittling and mockery.

During all of this, one individual has noticed what’s going on, a Huntsman named Rhodes. One day when particularly frustrated, Cinder sees him showing others a sword he acquired. Her stepsisters come in, trailing mud in a deliberate attempt to make Cinder’s life harder. She snaps, her Scorch Touch Semblance essentially causing her to turn her brush into a smoke bomb. As a result, her stepmother activates a shock collar that Cinder already put on, her abuse now evolving into physical torture. Having had enough, Cinder steals Rhodes sword and hides in I assume some kind of cellar. Rhodes finds her, but offers to train her to be a Huntress so that when she’s of age, she can enter a Huntsman Academy and have a better life. After all, killing her stepfamily won’t end her suffering.

Over what looks like years, Cinder receives training whenever Rhodes returns to the hotel, and she becomes a very strong fighter. But she still has to undergo the abuse for at least years. Regardless, she’s growing closer to her goal and Rhodes even gives her his sword. Unfortunately, one day, the stepsisters inform their mother that Cinder has a weapon. By the time Rhodes returns, hours have gone by and the hotel seems empty. But it isn’t long before he enters the cellar, finding the stepsisters dead and Cinder having as hold of her stepmother. The electrocution does nothing as Cinder simply snaps her neck, killing her. Cinder is relieved, having gotten rid of her abusers and now having her freedom. But to her shock Rhodes not only disapproves, but pulls his weapons, seeming to intending to turn her in. Cinder is shocked, then enraged as they fight. In the end, Cinder kills Rhodes and he merely pats her head before falling dead to the ground. Cinder rips the shock collar off and looks out the window, crying but also smiling as she is now free.

We cut to the present with Cinder waking up, Emerald having brought her back to Monstra. Cinder is very much not happy even as Emerald tries to explain how she had been hurt. Mercury comes in, saying that it’s pointless and again telling Emerald that Cinder does not care. Cinder orders them out... but Mercury isn’t there to obey her anymore. He reveals that Salem has plans for him, and thus he’s now higher up just as he wanted in Volume 6. This, he no longer follows Cinder, and she loses one more person she once had control over. They’ve been summoned to the bridge for something big. Mercury leaves with Emerald soon following, leaving Cinder sitting alone.

Meanwhile, Oz is trying to convince Oscar to let him take over to give the kid a break from the beatings. But Oscar has a suggestion. While they are there, why not use Salem’s own tactics against her? She uses her agents to sew the seeds of division among her enemies... so why can’t they dot he same with her allies? Hazel comes in, asking for the password once more. Ozpin now takes over, enraging Hazel. But when Oz asks why he’s even working for Salem when he’s fully aware of what she’s done, the brute says that there’s no point to fighting her. He knows what she can do. She will win. It’s foolish to go against her, and due to Oz countless young lives have been lost for what he deems a hopeless cause. But Oz points out that someone had to try and is about to reveal what’ll happen if the Relics are united to show just how bad the stakes are, when Salem enters to call everyone to the bridge.

All of Salem’s current agents are there, though Emerald and Neo are noticeably more to the side. Watts has contacted Tyrian to report his hacking efforts, which causes Salem to turn to Cinder. She causes the Grimm Arm to send Cinder into a wave of pain, just as she was forced into under her stepmother. But suddenly, Salem says that Cinder’s current actions are her fault, and the pain stops. She says that she denied Cinder what she wanted after all that she endured, so she allows Cinder to take the Winter Maiden powers from Penny, whether she or her Hound gets there first. or now, Cinder and Tyrian are to get Watts as Salem launches her attack. IDK if i’s Oscar or Oz begging them not to as they’ll be sealing their own doom, but Salem merely says that it’s too late.

Meanwhile, the Ace-Ops are less than happy about Watts and now having to go after what Elm says is junk, causing Winter to more or less tell them to shut up. Marrow catches a comms transmission and upon putting it on speaker, finds that it’s Jaune trying to warn someone about the Grimm River. They land before the three, who are heading for Mantle on the repaired hoverbike. When Jaune tries to explain, Harriet is more interested in finding Penny and again blames them for the situation. before she can continue though, the river... well... shoots up. To Atlas. It launches several Grimm, and they destroy the Hard Light Shield Generators. Our heroes, the Ace-Ops, Ironwood, and even the people in the Crater can only watch in horror as the shields go down. Salem gives the order, and Monstra unleashes a horde of various Grimm as the chapter ends.

Review

As I said in the intro, many have been waiting for a Cinder backstory for a long, long time. The lack of one and a definite motivation has been one of the biggest criticisms against Cinder for years now. Before we begin, I should talk about my opinion of Cinder. As I do with Ruby, I have always found Cinder an interesting character. For all the things people complained about her, like her lack of motivation, thirst for power, her declining threat level, it only made me more interested. Why? Because there’s always just enough small things to get my attention. Her hatred of Ruby for making her feel weak, getting angry whenever someone like Watts spoke back at her, even burning him in Volume 5 for getting after her changing the invasion plans. How she seems borderline obsessed with power and being in control, becoming more and more unhinged whenever she loses it. After being the puppet-master for he first three volumes, watching as we slowly learn that she is just another’s puppet and her quest for power always had me asking why she was like this.

At long last, we have the answer. Now to be honest... most of this went exactly as I expected since I knew that she was a Cinderella expy. She had an abusive guardian. Abusive stepsisters. She was abused, treated as a slave, and generally miserable. But unlike Cinderella, who always remained kind and loving in spite of her stepfamily’s torment, Cinder was angry, spiteful, and did break. Heck considering her previous living conditions, maybe she was sold as a slave, The only thing I didn’t expect was for her to have a prince/godmother figure in Rhodes, someone who gave her a chance to eventually attain a better life. But sadly, it ended with her snapping and killing both her abusers and the only person to show her kindness. Cinder got her freedom, but also sealed herself to a miserable life.

Now there’s already been some arguments about this. Everyone agrees that the stepfamily sucks, but how much fault does Rhodes hold? I think that he had good intentioned, but there’s the fact that ultimately he left Cinder to continue to be abused despite fully well knowing about it. Now I get why some go ‘just take her’, but that would have plenty of it’s own issues like him being accused of kidnapping, endangering an innocent girl, etc. Ultimately I think that Rhodes was a decent guy who did what he thought he could do to give Cinder a chance at a better life under the circumstances. She just had to endure the abuse for a few years as her inspiration did, then she could walk free. But sadly, that didn’t happen. Rhodes made a mistake in not at least stepping up to demand Cinder be treated better, maybe event threatening to inform someone higher up about it and endangering the business. But he didn’t, and this along with drawing his weapons' against Cinder sealed his demise. It’s sad, but with how hurt Cinder was and after the abuse she suffered, I understand why she did it. It wasn’t the right thing to do, but it’s understandable. Her stepfamily deserved it though, no argument there.

But putting all of our attention on Cinder now, this answered/confirmed everything that I had suspected for years. Why does Cinder hate Atlas/the elite? Because she was abused by them. Why does she hate Huntsmen? Because one betrayed her. Why is she so obsessed with power? Because it’s what, in her mind, gave her freedom. Why does she want control? Because she was never allowed to have it. It’s why she burned Watts in Volume 5, he tried to overpower her and she wasn’t going to take it. It’s why she loses it every time she loses a chance at the Maiden power, because it further reminds her of how weak and powerless she once was and never wants to be again. Heck it’s why she wants Ruby dead and even fears her, because she has a power that by it’s nature makes her powerless as Volume 3 proved, which was the first true time we saw Cinder get defeated. Just as she killed the one thing left in her way at that, she got brought right back down to that powerless girl beaten by everyone around her. Isn’t re-analyzing everything after big reveals fun?!

Everything makes sense, and we can now see how everything clicks. When we met Cinder, she was confident and in control of everything, and we didn’t question it as we knew virtually nothing back then. But as we learned about Salem, the true stakes, and the history of Remnant, the more we saw Cinder’s position slip. Every time she has gone after a Maiden past Amber, she failed. She’s failed at pretty much everything and her only success, getting The Lamp, was only because of Neo. So her anger and her grip has slipped more and more as the fact that she isn’t as powerful as she believed keeps hitting her and bringing her back to that barn/hotel. And now? Mercury has walked out on her in favor of Salem, and at this point I won’t be surprised if Neo walks and Emerald is eventually driven away. Cinder just can’t accept love and affection, having either never received it or in her eyes, those who did betrayed her. And unless she does come to understand these concepts and that people like Emerald are willing to care about her, she will be left all alone.

But the saddest part? At least with the deaths, it at least looked like Cinder could at least begin her life anew. But... she didn’t. Here’s one of my gripes with the chapter, us not seeing how she joined Salem. What happened after the deaths? Did she run away? Did she get arrested and escape? How did she meet Salem? What got Salem to take her in? I was hoping to get these answers to both know why Cinder is where she is and see more of how Salem brings people into her fold, but sadly we didn’t. That being said, we’ve seen enough to see how Cinder is just where she had previously been. She’s serving another for a goal that is not her own. She feels in control because it’s allowing her to get the power that she thinks will give her freedom. But it isn’t, and Salem occasionally showing her favor as she did here are why Cinder keeps falling back in line. Cinder escaped one abusive situation, but only ended up in another one and either doesn’t realize it or is in deep denial over it.

Honestly, it’s just... sad. I feel legit bad for Cinder. Her life was awful, and she either never got a say in it or when she did, made the wrong choice. Now does this justify anything that she has done? No. She still killed Pyrrha. She still killed Vernal. She still killed innocent people, like that Mistral girl just so she could steal her stuff. She caused Penny’s first death. She caused the Grimm attack that killed who knows how many people in Vale. She was perfectly willing to kill an elderly woman just for her powers. And as Jaune said in Volume 5, always with a sick smirk on her face. There is a LOOOT of blood on her hands and as bad as I feel for her, nothing justifies the horrible things that she has done. The only way that I can see her at least begin a redemption arc is to both start to understand the concept of people caring as well as realize just what horrible things she’s done. If Emerald and Neo turn on her as Mercury has, that could be what does it, or has her double down. I have been pretty against Cinder being redeemed because of her lack of remorse, but I have been convinced that it’s plausible. It’s all going to depend on the execution. But in the end, whether she change or stick to the path she’s on now, she ultimately has my pity.

Okay, that’s enough on Cinder for now. Let’s now talk about Oscar and Oz. And just like in Chapter 4, seeing Oscar so battered and even a little bloody is... rough. Hell, Oz trying to convince Oscar to let him take over to give the kid a break with Oscar refusing is... yeah. But I do like how Oscar brings up a very good point. Salem’s power comes form her causing division. Using her pawns to go out and place doubt into other’s minds. And it works... so why can’t they do the same? Place doubt into the minds of Salem’s agents. We as the audience know fully well that not everyone is on board. Hazel is a hypocrite, but essentially serves Salem as he sees fighting her as hopeless and thus directs the hate onto Oz since that’s someone he can harm. Neo hates being there, Emerald is scared, and despite his promotion Mercury is as terrified as Emerald is and we can see he does still care about her. Even Cinder we see could turn if she ever realized that she’s in no better a place she was as before. Only Tyrian is really full-heartedly loyal. There are cracks within Salem’s ranks, and Oscar has an open chance to shatter it.

But he’s gonna have to act fast. So... that River, huh? Yep, it was meant for Atlas. It’s a cunning move. But this makes Ironwood’s actions even more cruelly ironic. Imagine that he stayed in Mantle. Chances are, the forces would have been out in the tundra. There is a good possibility that they could have discovered the River sooner. Even with them not knowing about it turning into a geyser, they could have at least prepared for something or come up with a defense. It shows just how poor Ironwood’s decision truly was and even if he had shot Atlas upward, all it would have done was delay the inevitable. Worse, he’s sent his best soldiers to the tundra to find Penny. Even if they do, Watts will have control and Ironwood’s own temper allowed that. Ironwood okayed right into Salem’s hands, and he has sealed Atlas’ doom. Oh he won’t go down without a fight, for that I’m certain. But I get the feeling that it’s gonna be too late.

Chapter Stats

Favorite Character: Cinder Fall Favorite Scene: Cinder and Salem interaction near the end Least Favorite Scene: Mmm... Cinder being electrocuted was hard to watch Favorite Voice Actor: Jessica Nigri (Cinder) Favorite Animation: Cinder vs Rhodes Rating: 8/10

Final Thoughts

So far, this is my least favorite chapter of the volume. Not because it was bad, it just feels... incomplete. There are still several pieces with Cinder that I feel are missing, mainly how she came under Salem. But that may be an answer for another day. I also feel like they should have done this sooner, especially since after how long it’s been and Cinder doing worse and worse things, it’s harder for me to feel 100% bad for her, but I get they may not have had a choice. What we did get, however, was more than enough to answer the many questions regarding Cinder that we’ve had for eight volumes now. We know understand why she is how she is, and even how she could begin to turn it around. But that’s still a choice that only she can make. The wait was very much worth it, and add to two new songs (one being by Casey’s band OK Goodnight, yay!), Oscar showing his development, us seeing the cracks in the villains mindsets, and of course the ending taking us right back to the stakes of this volume. One more to go until the mid-season break folks, and knowing this show, they’re gonna ensure that we wait in agony.

#rwby #rwby reviews #rwby8 #rwby spoilers #rwby musings #callie reviews

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wolfandsheep200 · 4 years ago

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This idea struck me. Mostly because I'm tired of all the heroes winning and just want to see the Villain's doing horrible villian things.

Villain's from all sides.

By wolf and sheep two hundred

Yang Shalong had her red eyed adversarie cornered. The green haired girl standing before her. Deserved everthing she was about to get coming to her and so much more. Yang had spent many an evening dreaming of the moment she would get her hands on any member of the trio. Who had worked so fervently to tear life apart.

The tired and beaten girl before Yang had no place left to run. Ren, Nora, and Juan. Had spear headed the attack ferociously throwing themselves at Cinder Fall in an attack so voracious that they had managed to push the Madien back. Away from her allies. How long they could manage to hold Cinder there? Yang had no idea. Cinder wasn't her assignment at the moment. Infact the girl before her. Wasn't her assignment either. No her assignment had been Mercury Black. The silver haired your man who had attempted to come to Cinders aid. Yangs group fortunately had the for-site to expect such a reaction. From Cinders allies. All it had cost them was a bit of planning, timing which bordered on perfection, and a bit of good luck which she would have never obtained if her Uncle had been near. Yangs very own sister Ruby along with her two closet friends in the world, and two huntress from Robyn's elite team. Had inserted themselves between Cinder fall and Mercury Black. None of them had thought it would take much to subdued Mercury Black. And from what she could tell her team had been winning that fight. Yang had originally been part of the group that was going to take him down. Then herself and the others were supposed to join Team JNR to finally finish off Cinder Fall. The plan had went sideways when Yang caught site of the Green haired red eyed girl known as Emerald. Emerald had been attempting to sneak her way into a compromising position which would have allowed Cinder Fall to get free of them. Yang had cut from her teammates. Racing up a fire escape ladder and jumping from rooftop to rooftop. Then droping downwards on top of Emerald. She connected with the full weight of her body smashing brutality into the unawares girl. Emerald screamed out from the pain and surprise of the attack. Yang hadn't given Emerald time to bounce back. Hadn't offered her the opportunity for a fair fight. Afterall Yangs team needed her. In the blink of an eye she started tearing into her opponent. Each time Yangs fist connected she could feel the other girls bones through the skin. If she kept up her assault the girls bones might start to snap like kindling. "Good." She thought as she hit Emerald again and again. The people of Vale never had a chance to have their bones snapped. They were never even offered a fair fight. The lucky ones were just swallowed whole. And the unlucky ones. Well they ended up just like this girl was about to end up dead and in pieces on the floor. Emerald head smacked off the brick wall. Her body collapse to the floor. She could barely see out of either eye both were swelling shut quickly. When she sucked air it was a new experience in pain many of her teeth were missing. She couldn't raise one arm something white protruded from her arm at a weird angle and blood gushed everywhere. The blonde was walking towards her her knuckles cracking. Words spewing fourth in a torrent which couldn't be coherently understood.

"So this is how I die." Emerald thought. In a back alley. I never really did make it off the streets." She closed her eyes. Waiting on the blow to come. For one horrifying second she wondered if anyone would care. Hazle might be annoyed yet she didn't know him well enough to confidently say he would care. Tryian would probably take some delight in her demise. Tormenting Mercury about it. If Mercury survived until the two faced off in private combat. Watts would just say her defeat was a hazard of the game that they all played and as far as Neo was concerned. Emerald could never tell what was on Neo's mind. That forever changing eyed Female, was a mystery of all sorts. So that just left Cinder and Mercury. For Salem, saw them all as pieces on a chess board. The exact same way Ozpin saw the girl that was ending her life. "Cinder would miss me." She thought. Then she heard Mercury's voice in her head. "No! He shouted. "Cinder would only miss what you could do for her." She wouldn't miss you. What about you Mercury? Emerald was afraid to voice the question. She was afraid to hear the answer. She wondered where the blow was. That was supposed to end her life. She was expecting it and yet it did not come. Somehow that filled her with rage. How dare Blonde toy with her like this. Emerald struggled to open her red eyes. She had expected to see. Yang Shalong's leved Shotgun gauntlet pointed directly at her head. Calm waiting for Emerald to open her eyes so the blonde could blow her brains out. Instead what she saw was her salvation. In a true a standoff which would have played on any cops show. Mercury Black stood like like a solid stone statue. Presenting himself as a human barrier. Planted directly between herself and the rest of the world. The blonde who had been assaulting her. Lay on the floor. Her artifical hand gripping at her throat as blood course between her metallic fingers. Three people faced him down. All of them with guns bared. On her knees infront of Mercury was a woman Emerald didn't recognize. The blade of the Belladonna girls gun held to her throat. Mercury had one foot planted on her back leg and appeared to be screaming. At them. Raving.

Ruby Rose appeared to be staring at her sister. Her body was shaking wildly. Her eyes flickering back and forth. To her left was Weiss Schnee and Blake Belladonna. Infront of her on the ground was her dying sister. And ahead of her on her knees with a blade to her throat was one of Robyn's Happy Huntressess. Holding that blade was a Mercury Black. She had never been introduced too. Part of her was still trying to figure out how this had all happened. Her team and the other two Huntressess had this man beaten. Until the other one of the happy huntress started running her mouth. The insult had been plain. Mercury had been downed. Then She had spit on him, and called him pathetic, adding that he lacked skill. Mercury had looked up started to smart off to her when Emerald cried out for help. The huntress sensing danger had slapped Mercury to the floor. Then had the guall to tell him to his face that he was trash. Saying trash like him wasn't welcomed in her kingdom. And he was going to be imprisoned or worse. For his crimes. Then the unthinkable had happened Mercury started laughing.

And what does Trash like you think is so funny? The happy huntress asked so confidently.

"That You." The word You washed fourth from his mouth like acid. "A fully trained huntress. With others to back you up. Are incapable of realizing I've been fighting defensively this entire time."

Mercury didn't have a lot of things. He didn't have legs made of flesh and bone. He didn't have a place he could go back to if he failed. He didn't have the respect of his client. And he didn't have the numbers to win this engagement. Two fully trained Huntressess three in training. Against one man and they dared to talk down to him. Well she was in for a surprise infact they all were. For Mercury had been talked back too his entire life. And as for being beaten. He had been beaten more times than he could count. Yet those beatings had took a toll on him both mentally and physically. Physically he had one advantage gifted from his father that they did not. He had endurance. He had endurance like nothing they had ever seen. This week willed soft lived woman. She was running her mouth because she believed Mercury was handicapped in this fight. She was running her mouth because she had the numbers and that made her fell safe. Well he would show her that when one plays for lives. Safety is an illusion. Mercury came off the floor a new man they had sired a demon within him. The same demon which had killed his father. And now they much like his Father would learn. For Mercury would show them what he brought to the table. He would show them all. Starting with the one hurting Emerald.

This chapter has been a Would and sheep 200 production. It is fiction written by a fan of Rwby. This chapter was cut a little short for time and I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it for you.

The chapters name is: Villain's from all sides.

#mercury black #emerald sustrai

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razorblade180 · 5 years ago

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Things I think about but probably will never write.

Adam and Neo at a club. Neo acts like she’s alone so guys buy her drinks and try to take her home; the moment they leave their alone is when Adam jumps then and they both steal the person’s belongings. Adam is sort of jealous that Neo lets men get all touchy and close for the plan to work but she lets him know he’s the only one that can really touch her where it counts.

Yang think Jaune is cheating whenever he goes out once a month for me time so her and Blake stalk him one time. They are both surprised to find out that he isn’t cheating; him and Adam just hangout in secret because both of the girls would be stunned by the friendship. All they do is talk about life and Jaune actually gushes over Yang and reminds Adam he won’t tolerate anyone talking bad about her.

Sora, Xion,Vanitas,Roxas, and Ventus have a full on fight with Namine acting as the referee to make sure no one dies. All of them are going full power and pulling every trick, from riding keyblades to using every form in their arsenal. By the end it’s just Sora vs Ventus where both of them ignore Namine and use go at each other with way too much power. She snaps her fingers and they instantly collapse as chains tighten around their heart. They aren’t hurt, and she didn’t want to do it but they would’ve died otherwise. Officially, it’s a draw but the others know Namine is definitely the strongest against them.

Gula, Aced, and Invi breach the land of departure and encounter the bbs trio in different locations. Terra fights on the main steps and shows aced the power of darkness and light used with unwavering will. Aqua battles Invi where her beliefs and faith is put to the test by a far more cunning master. Gula calls Ven out on his past and try uses mind games to deter the boy; threatening to let his friends know about his traitorous past. The words are met with a glimpse of Ventus’s violet nature and now a battle of wind and lightning takes place on the summit.

Ilia starts the final test for Sienna (oc) to complete before joining the Shadows. The task is take down an arms dealer without too much commotion and she has 3 months to do it. The task increasingly becomes more difficult however as this is the first time she’s actively killed that wasn’t in self defense and learns the man has a five year old daughter. Thus begins a long plan to take out the man but make sure the girl doesn’t get tangled up in any physical or mental instability. By the end Sienna learns her line of work forces be the darkness the world needs way more than anticipated.

Whitley creates a plan for Weiss to go on tour to bring the people together on trying times. The rest of team RWBY act as body gaurds and roadies while everyone else continues to travel the world. The two siblings start growing closer and realize how much they missed out on being not to each other.

Team MEAN come back from their first mission where it’s a complete failure. Emerald is injured and Neo is roughed up. Adam and Mercury start fighting about who should really be calling the shots and which one should fall into line. Emerald splits the two up and they both storm off. The girls go to talk to their respective idiots where some emotional barriers are broken down. At the end of the day all for of them really are just street kids forced to fight for life or die hungry. Adam and Mercury meet up afterwards to reconcile and the team is more solid.

Jacquelyn learns just how much Adam is willing to risk his life for hers without hesitation and she starts falling hard for him. Adam still doesn’t realize he’s changing or has a genuine attachment to her quite yet.

Jaune is confroted by Qrow for dating Ruby and getting intimate. Both men are unwavering in the fight but Jaune is obviously losing by a good margin. Ruby goes off on Qrow by resorting to such violence and puts her foot down about being treated like a little kid.

Jael and Yujin each get into trouble training when they were younger and witness just how big the gap is between themselves and their fathers.

Sienna(OC) struggles to cope with her past as her nightmares get worse and stop her from feeling okay altogether; accidentally harming her loved ones. Sun helps her find a way to mend the trauma.

Weiss wants Jaune to be a little less sweet and a little more rough but is embarrassed by her own wants and desires. Both of them learn just how much tension they’ve had bottled up as her not so subtle hints lead to a conversation and permission that gets them hot and bothered.

Blake is concerned about her relationship with Jaune. Anytime she tries to set the mood he always deflects or finds away to avoid the situation. It’s only after she asks Weiss for advice that she realizes her stupid mistake. Unlike her, Jaune hasn’t slept with anybody before and is completely new to basically a relationship in general. She apologizes to him for being so fast without realizing how anxious the whole thing has to be for him. The two take things a bit slower for the time being.

It’s the anniversary of Summer’s disappearance and Tai gets a visit from Raven. A lot of anger and grief gets vented towards her that she accepts fully and also breaks her down a bit. Against logic, both of them dare to find comfort with each other once again.

Sora breaks down in despair as being alone in shibuya with no clear way back gets to him.

Deku gets hit with a quirk that temporarily stops his inhibitions. Some intense feelings come out because of it that let’s people know just how hard it is for him to keep that positive attitude.

An essay about my complex feelings towards bmblb and the fans.

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good-rwbyaus · 5 years ago

Note

HellsingAbridged!AU Vampire Tyrian and Watts break into Hellsing's massion, where Alu!Mercury, Seras!Ruby, and SirIntegra!Emerald are. (Basically Ep. 2)

While we do have a no crossover policy going on...I can’t resist this because Mercury as Alucard is perfection because two of my favorite characters as one? Thank you! ~ Green

Yatsu: The following is a fan based parody. Hellsing Ultimate is owned by Kouta Hirano and Studio Madhouse, and licensed by Geneon, Madman Entertainment, Manga Entertainment, and Funimation. Please support the official release... you protestant fuckbucket.

[on phone]

*on the phone*

Sir Emerald: Hello, Mercury. How was your mission in Japan?

Mercury: Eh... I'd say 99... *Switches to zombie at a gate of a high school from the anime, High School Of The Dead* ...point 9 percent done. 'Sup, bitch?

Sir Emerald: I need to talk to you about some important guests coming today.

Mercury: Are they hookers?

Sir Emerald: No.

Mercury: And like that, you've lost me.

Sir Emerald: They're our financial suppliers.

Mercury: Oh man, they have to hate us.

Sir Emerald: They do. That's why they canceled our budget.

Mercury: Oooh, that's bad. We need that, right? Ozpin, we need that right?

Ozpin: Yes, very important.

Mercury: Thank you, Ozpin.

Ozpin: Of course, sir.

Sir Emerald: Over the last couple of years we've had some... expensive claims.

Mercury: Like what?

Sir Emerald: First off, property damage.

*cut scene of an explosion and people running away from OVA 6*

Mercury: Good times.

Sir Emerald: Dozens of noise complaints...

*cut scene to Police Girl and Mercury blasting Nobody by Skindred*

Mercury: Sorry! I can't hear you!

Sir Emerald: Killing at least a dozen innocent people...

Mercury: Oh, so did Anthony Hopkins, and he got a fucking Oscar for it!

Sir Emerald: And... all of the clothes stealing.

Mercury: ...I'm not apologizing.

Sir Emerald: Listen, I know this is asking a lot, but...

Mercury: But...

Sir Emerald: I want you to keep yourself locked in the basement until all of them are gone.

Mercury: ...I get the distinct impression you're embarrassed of me.

Sir Emerald: Mercury.

Mercury: I'm gonna go with no...

Sir Emerald: This is important, and I don't need you causing another scene.

Mercury: I don't have to take this. I'm going for a walk.

Sir Emerald: No you don't!

Mercury: Oh, what are you going to do? Grab that guy who can stop me? What was his name...? Michael McDoesn't-exist?

Sir Emerald: *Sigh* ...What do you want?

Mercury: What?

Sir Emerald: What.. do I need to give you.. to keep you down here for the evening?

Mercury: I'm going to need a new gun. Also, one for the police girl.

Ruby: But I already have a gun!

Mercury: Get that bitch a cannon; Bitches love cannons!

Sir Emerald: Anything else?

Mercury: A seventy-inch plasma widescreen tv.

Sir Emerald: Really?

Mercury: With Netflix.

Sir Emerald: Should it also be 3D?

Mercury: NO! That's a stupid fucking gimmick and everyone knows it!

*scene changes to the board meeting*

Sir Emerald: Hello, gentlemen. Thank you very much for accepting my invitation.

Sir Shelby Penwood Well, considering the direness of your financial security, we thought it was the least we could do.

Sir Emerald: Now before we begin, I was under the impression our budget was handled directly by the queen.

Sir Hugh Irons: Oh, it is, however, we're having a distinctly difficult time justifying some of these expenses.

Sir Shelby Penwood: Most of them under the name... 'Mercury'.

Sir Emerald: *inhale* Continue...

Sir Hugh Irons: For example, some of them were frankly labeled... "entertainment".

Sir Emerald: Entertainment?

Unknown Council Member 1: Quite. Like in my report; Twenty thousand for a... Candi?

Unknown Council Member 2: That's Candi with an 'i', by the way.

Sir Emerald: I see.

Sir Hugh Irons: Not to mention the priceless antique car... I believe the note on the claim was, "I thought I could paint it red, but I couldn't find enough goats, so I scrapped it".

Sir Emerald: So that's why we found my father's car covered in goat blood and rammed into a Dairy Queen.

Sir Shelby Penwood: Oh, yes, and then there's also the Dairy Queen. Sitting at about ninety-five thousand in damages. *rambling*

Sir Emerald: *thinking* I would do fucking anything right now to get out of this.

*cut scene to Tyrian and Watts walking towards gates of building*

Tyrian: And so halfway through kissin' me, the fuckin' escort OD's on heroin!

Watts: I really don't like discussing my ex-girlfriend with you.

Tyrian: I mean, I still finished, but what kind of shit is that?

Watts: For God's sakes, Tyrian, think of Salem!

Tyrian: ...I ain't jerkin' off right now.

Guard: Oi, You two! The grounds are currently closed.

Tyrian: Aw man, that totally sucks! And we came all the way out here with these foreign exchange students on a field trip through England!

Guard: Where from?

*countless machine gun barrels; MP5 Navy+Suppressor, to be exact, appear from the bus*

Tyrian: Texas! *Snaps fingers*

*Sub-Machine gun fire; guards killed*

Tyrian: Aw shit, looks like we need more prayer in schools.

Watts: If you're quite finished, ready the ghouls. I'm going to find Mercury. You overrun the rest of the mansion.

Tyrian: Alrighty! *ghouls begin filing off the bus* Attention all bitches! Off the bus and line up in order. *Readies dual custom P90s* I've got a class assignment for all of y'all!!

*cut scene back to the board meeting*

Unknown: And while the mime did survive, he'll never walk again.

*lights cut off*

Unknown 2: That's funny, we weren't cutting the power just yet.

Sir Emerald: Oh, shit...

*dials phone*

Sir Interga: Front desk report. What's going on?

Front Desk: Oh um yeah, hold on, just give me a second... whoa. Oh, yeah, it's ghouls. Definitely, definitely... *ghoul snarls* OH MY GOD!

*phone disconnects*

Sir Shelby Penwood: Sir Emerald, do something!

Sir Emerald: Calm down! We have over one hundred trained guards on the premises at all times. We have everything under control.

*explosion*

Unknown: What was that?

Sir Emerald: That was probably the escape chopper exploding. As I was saying, let me just contact communications and get an update.

*dials phone*

Sir Emerald: Communications, come in! We need a full report.

Man On Phone/Communications: *weeping*

Tyrian: Read the fucking paper.

Man On Phone: Hey there, Emerald,

Tyrian: Read it fucking RIGHT, cockhole!! *Clubs Communications just as he says Right!*

Man On Phone: Hey there... you... fat English trollop!

Tyrian: That's more like it, now keep goin'!

Man On Phone: Me.. and my big brother Watts... are killing... all of your men... and turning them into ghouls. So... I... hope... you've made peace... with yourself... 'cause when I find you... I'm gonna... oh god!

Tyrian: Keep reading, or I shoot the other testicle!!

Man On the Phone: Cause when I find you, I'm gonna sting every hole you've got! And then I'm gonna just keep making more holes to sting, until there's nothing left but your riddled corpse full of blood... and venom! Oh god, this is horrible!

Tyrian: You ain't finished yet!

Man On the Phone: So prepare your dried-up quim... for my huge vampire stinger. Now, pardon me, while I blow this bitch ass ginger's brains out -- OH GOD NO-!!!

*gunshot*

Tyrian: *laughing* His fucking face, man! Oh-ho ho ho fuck!! Oh, now that shit is priceless!

*hangs up phone*

Sir Emerald: Mercury, get up here now! I'm locked in with the committee on the third floor and...

Mercury: Listen, I'm going to have to stop you right there. You see, I'm under direct orders from my boss, who is a total bitch by the way *gives off an aroused grunt*, that I am not to leave this room until such time as the committee has left the building. I was even bribed. Imagine that...

Sir Emerald: Mercury, you vampiric asshole, I will --

Mercury: Sounds great, but I'm gonna have to go now, I've just queued up an episode of Adventure Time on Netflix. Bye~...

*Adventure Time sound clip, phone hanging up, Emerald snaps her cigar in utter anger*

Sir Emerald: Ozpin!

*cut scene to mansion; Watts slaughters four guards and picks up a phone call*

Watts: Hello, Tyrian.

Tyrian: So, how's my favorite big brother doing?

Watts: Oh, you know, just killed a group of guards...

Tyrian: Shit, bro, you too? What's your kill count at? Nah, don't tell me. *observes countless dead guards and the ghouls feasting upon them* I'm winnin'.

Watts: *Opens said passageway up* They were guarding a secret passageway downstairs. Not really keeping it a secret if you keep a bunch of armed guards standing around it.

Tyrian: Well, you have fun with that, bro. I'm gonna go skull-fuck that Hellsing bitch... And the old guys... Ah, fuck it. Skull-fuckin' for everyone!! Come here, ghoul!!

*ghoul moaning. Watts hangs up and smiles wryly*

Watts: Well, you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family.

*cut back to board meeting*

Sir Emerald: Alright, Ozpin and his assistant should be here any second now..

Sir Shelby Penwood: But if there's no way to get upstairs, how are they going to -- aaaghh! aaghh!

*Ozpin and Police Girl fall from ceiling, accidentally knocking Shelby over.*

Ozpin: Tally ho!

Sir Emerald: Good to see you, Ozpin.

Ozpin: Of course, sir.

Sir Emerald: The first two floors have been entirely overrun. Communications with the outside have been cut off. We lost all of our men, and Mercury is being --

Ozpin: Mercury?

Sir Emerald: A total ass, yes. Now tell me, do you have any plans?

Ozpin: Of course, sir. I shall do exactly as the butler does, and tidy up.

*cut to mansion hall, Tyrian marching down it with his army of ghouls*

Tyrian: I don't give a shit, I don't give a fuck. I don't give a shit, I don't give a fuck. Though if I give a shit, I might just give a fuck, but I don't give a shit, so I don't give a...

(Ghouls are suddenly slaughtered.)

Tyrian: ...fuck was that?

Ozpin: Hello, my name is Ozpin C. Dornez. Ex-Vampire hunter and butler to the Hellsing organization. I answer the door, I clean up the estate, and I take out the trash. And I also kill self-entitled little twats like yourself.

Tyrian: Well ain't you just the textbook fuckin definition of classy, but guess what, Jeeves, that garrote wire won't do shit for dick against armor this thick. What's that, Alfred, how thick is it? Well, half as thick as my dick, so thick enough that you need a fucking anti-tank rifle to pierce it, and I don't even see a piece on your wrinkly old ass.

Ozpin: Police girl, if you may.

*Zoom cut to Police Girl with said anti-tank rifle at the other end of the hallway*

Ruby: BITCHES LOVE CANNONS! *Fires rifle and kills several ghouls*.

Tyrian: Oh fuck, that's an anti-tank rifle. OH FUCK, THAT'S AN ANTI-TANK RIFLE!!! *Gets shot*

*cuts to Mercury watching Adventure Time; Watts breaks through the wall, destroying the plasma TV*

Mercury: That was a seventy-inch... plasma screen TV. *inhales* So, how can I help you?

Watts: You must be the great Mercury.

Mercury: S'uuup?

Watts: I've heard quite a lot about you.

Mercury: Oh, really?

Watts: The night walker... who glides through oceans of blood. Beyond human, a monster whose power radiates with a darkness that casts a shadow on darkness itself --

Mercury: Oh, you dirty bitch, work the shaft!

Watts: Ex-cuse you..?

Mercury: Oh, I'm sorry, I like to dirty talk when someone's sucking my dick.

Watts: ...Perhaps I should just skip to my point. My name is Watts.

Mercury: And I'm Carmen Sandiego. Guess where I am!

Watts: I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you here...

Mercury: Oh, so am I, and I'm failing, and I'm sorry for that. It's just that I'm so agitated; because this blond little shit strolled into my room, destroyed my seventy-inch, plasma TV, and is trying to impress me like I'm his alcoholic father.

*Watts dashed towards Mercury, Watts’ modified M1 Garand and Mercury's Jackal Pistol pointed at each other's heads at the ready*

Mercury: Be a sport and grab daddy another beer, would you~?

*Watts fires at Mercury in the head*

*cut back to Tyrian, Ozpin, Police Girl, with the ghouls all defeated. Police Girl has Tyrian pinned to the ground in an arm bar hold.*

Ruby: Arm bars everywhere!

Tyrian: Let me go, you stupid bitch!

Ozpin: That's quite impressive, where did you learn that hold?

Ruby: Oh wow, it's almost like I'm a police girl or something!

Ozpin: Sarcasm is unbecoming of you.

Tyrian: Wow, gee willickers, mister, I sure am sorry for slaughterin' all your guards, and tearin' up your mansion. I promise I've learned my le- *Ozpin stomps on Tyrian's hand* Aw, fuck! Take a joke, asshole!

Ozpin: And everything you say just pisses me off! Now you're going to tell me everything I want to know.

Tyrian: Alright, alright... what you do, is you go down to the local pharmacy, ask for something called Viagra, and it will help you go fuck yourself!

*Ozpin loses his patience and prepares his wires, but then more ghouls appear and Tyrian breaks out of the submission hold*

Tyrian: And now, for the upcoming company picnic! *Presents an army of former Hellsing employees now turned into ghouls.* Unfortunately, all your douchebag co-workers are bringing is their own rotten flesh! Still better than potato salad, if you ask me. Now if'n you don't mind, *Jumps over the two of them* I'm-a go eat that Hellsing bitch!

Ozpin: I've got your arm! *Tears off Tyrian's right arm with his wire*

Tyrian: SO SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!!!

*Tyrian laughs maniacally as he busts opens the door, frowning as the Council members draw their guns*

Tyrian: Well, that's not fair at all.

Sir Emerald: I'm sorry, *Draws her Sig P226 as she quips* we don't give a fuck!

*Rapid gunfire tears Tyrian to shreds. Tyrian screams (and curses) in surprise and pain*

Tyrian: Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck... agh! Fuck! *Slumps against a wall* Where the fuck did my ghouls go??

Ozpin: Oh, they've been dealt with.

*Ruby, in a blood rage, slaughters ghouls; Dragula by Rob Zombie plays in the background*

Tyrian: Well, at least I'm gonna die with a raging boner...

Sir Emerald: All right, shit for brains, you're going to spill every single thing you know, or I'm going to have Ozpin here peel your dick like a banana!

Tyrian: *Laughing* I don't know what's fuckin' funnier; the fact that you think that your titless ass intimidates me, or that you think my boss would let me live if you did! *Is suddenly enveloped in blue fire, ala a Dr. Merlot; as he declares* AND NOW I'M ON FUCKING FIRE! SO NOW IT'S FREE GAME! The one who sent me... WAS... NAZIS!

*Tyrian burns to Ashes, leaving only his hand flipping the bird.*

Sir Emerald: I heard George Lucas. Who else heard George Lucas?

Ozpin: I heard Miami Heat.

Ruby: I heard the Motley Crue with my vampire hearing.

Sir Emerald: Wait a second... where's the big brother?

*Back at Mercury's room, Mercury is clearly outmatched by Watts(at least that's what he's making it look like).*

Watts: You can't touch me, I was hand-crafted to kill you. My speed, my stamina, my power all rival, nay, dwarf yours! In comparison to you, I am a demi-god!!

(A Brief silence, as our "hero" registers what was just said.)

Mercury: ...Really? Really.

Watts: Really.

Mercury: Really?

Watts: Really!

Mercury: *Excitedly* REALLY?!

Watts: Really!!

Mercury: Release Restraint, level one.

Watts: Level what? *As in the Cromwell seal restriction has been lifted to level one; Totally not Kaio-Ken, for obvious reasons.*

*Watts loses a leg, thanks to the "dwarfed" Mercury's Jackal, fired ala Baskerville the Big Black Dog. God of War theme plays.*

Watts: Aaagh, aagh, fuck!

Mercury: You know, they say that TV makes you violent, but I say that not having my TV is making me pretty fucking violent!!

*Mercury's shoots his Jackal Pistol at Luke's OTHER leg, blowing the said, right leg clean off.*

Watts: AAAAAOOOOUGH-!!! *thinking* I'm near the stairs! Gotta get to the stairs! If I could just get up the stairs, I... *Suddenly sees just how long said stairs really are, much to his dismay.* Aaaaaw, fuck...!

Mercury: Come on! You were talking all of that good shit a second ago, then I blew your fucking legs off!!

Watts: But, I... you... what the fuck?!

Mercury: What's wrong "demi-god"? Just grow back your legs! *As he SMASHES the leg in his hand* Summon up your demons! Hit me! FIGHT ME!!! ...Give me a hug~!

Watts: Really...? *Baskerville the AFOREMENTIONED Big Black Dog descends upon him as a certain soon-to-be bloody Valentine cries: * OH GOD NO-!!!

*Cut to conference room phone, as the committee members and Emerald listen to Watts being violently eaten alive. By the Big Black Dog. Emerald smiles wryly.*

Mercury (on speakerphone): We're here on Epic Meal Time!! I'm the sauce boss, and tonight, we're eating this blond little wannabe demi-god bitch!

Sir Shelby Penwood: Who... is that, exactly?

Sir Emerald: Oh, that's Mercury, the one we talked about earlier. This is what happens when he has to entertain himself. Oh, so what was that issue with our funding?

Sir Shelby Penwood: Issue?

Sir Hugh Irons: What issue?

Sir Shelby Penwood: I don't see an issue!

Sir Jacques Schnee: Shut up and take our money!!!

(Back at Emerald's room)

Mercury: Ah, and just like that, everything turned out alright in the end.

Sir Emerald: Yes, everything turned out just fine, except that ninety percent of our staff were killed, turned into ghouls, then killed again by the police girl in a blood rage.

Ruby: What's a blood rage, and why don't I remember anything?

Mercury: Oh, that reminds me, for whatever reason, did we ever find out who sent them?

*Brief Pause once again.*

Mercury: It was the Nazis, wasn't it?

Sir Emerald: No!

Mercury: Bet you I'm right!

Sir Emerald: Bet you you're wrong!

Mercury: Bet you you're a skank~!

Sir Emerald: Bet you you're an asshole!

Mercury: BITCH, I EAT PEOPLE!

#rwby #mercury black #emerald sustrai #ruby rose #ozpin #tyrian callows #arthur watts #yatsuhashi daichi

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rwbyconversations · 6 years ago

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Why Emerald and Mercury’s scene in Lost is one of the best scenes in all of RWBY

Lost is a really underappreciated episode in Volume 6. It tends to get overlooked because Dead End precedes it and that’s easily the weakest episode of the season, while right afterwards we get the three-parter of the Argus Battle and Adam’s return meant focus was shifted for a hot minute. But I adore this episode, nearly every second of it barring some choices at the end (barring Oscar getting shafted for development- again- and Ruby’s oddball speech of “we didn’t need adults this far” to Qrow), but it’s honestly one of the best episodes of the season in my eyes, and that falls down to one major scene- Emerald and Mercury’s conversation in the first third of the episode, which is one of my favorite scenes in all of RWBY.

I know when people think of character arcs involving Lost they tend to go for the obvious lure of the Pyrrha statue, which, to be fair, is a really solid character moment and I loved a lot about it- especially the small reference to the Volume 1 OP of Jaune looking at the statue, it’s framed with almost the exact same camera angle. But as someone who mains my two murder kids, I cannot stress how hyped up I was going into Lost. Finally, after years of being relegated to background fodder with their one big moment since Volume 3 being their humiliating appearance at Haven where Emerald took a literal dive and Merc was left holding an arm like a numbnuts, Lost was gonna give me the content I’d been waiting for.

The fact that Merc and Em were getting the thumbnail- something neither of them had been in since Volume 3- was something that made my goddamn day when the thumbnail went up on VRV

And ultimately, I think the scene delivered, and delivered with a gusto that makes me unironically call it one of the best scenes of the Volume, one of the best of the show, in fact- and today I’d like to explain why I love Emerald and Mercury’s scene in Volume 6 Chapter 9, Lost.

1) The establishing context, or: a quick breakdown of Merc and Em in V6C4

Merc and Em had one scene earlier this volume, in Chapter 4, “So That’s How It Is.” It chronicles them and Hazel returning from Mistral several weeks after the Battle of Haven, Hazel having contacted Little Miss Malachite and gotten the heads up on where RWBY were going next. Spirits are low as they leave the ship, and an unexpected welcoming party in Tyrian doesn’t lift the mood. Emerald in particular lashes out at Tyrian when he mockingly notices Cinder’s absence, which just gives him all the motivation he needs to get up in Emerald’s personal space and mock her for her weakness.

Fun fact, in the Volume 6 trailer, Tyrian creeping on Emerald happens in Salem’s conference room, presumably to throw people off the scene on when the scene would be happening.

Tyrian proves to be as sharp as his dearly-departed stinger (now resting in Ruby’s cabinet of Maimed Body Parts), mocking Emerald in a delightfully chilling voice that “Cinder isn’t here to protect you anymore.” You know who is though?

This asshole, that’s who. Mercury fucking Black, finally showing the spine he lost after Volume 3 and getting up in Tyrian’s grill to protect Emerald. He even got his eyebrows back just for the occasion!

Never forget Volume 4 and Merc’s penciled-on eyebrows

It’s a short but sweet scene that sets up the duo’s dynamic well- they’ve really only got each other out in Evernight so even if they bicker... a lot... Merc and Em will watch each other’s backs because it’s that or deal with Tyrian, Watts and most importantly Salem alone. And that’s not a thought either of them truly want to consider.

The rest of the Evernight scene in chapter 4 has some small but important moments for them- I especially love Mercury being the first person we see realizing Salem’s about to snap because of his abusive father. If anyone’s gonna know how to read the room and know to get out of dodge before the glass starts shattering, it’ll be him. How he just stands at attention, eyes locked forward when everyone else looks at Salem is also a nice subtle bit of character- eyes forward, since he was probably told not to move without permission. Emerald’s sheer terror for much of the debriefing is just a masterclass in animation- her eyes are these narrow pinpricks that can’t focus on a single spot, she cringes in anticipation of a slap when she rats out Cinder (gee it’s almost as if Cinder is her abuser who conditioned her or something why do people still ship them), how she flinches when Salem touches her shoulder and only relaxes when Salem moves on and reveals that Cinder’s alive. It’s all just great stuff for their characters that you get from looking at their body language.

That’s all that we see of Mercury and Emerald until chapter 9, and unfortunately the last we see of them from there until the post-credits scene, but fortunately, this is a real doozy of a scene.

2) The actual scene

We open with Merc and Em alone in a room, Emerald bitterly noting how much she hates being kept in the dark about Salem’s future plans. Mercury agrees, stopping some training to note that at least Cinder kept them up to speed, before resuming his combat.

Mercury and Yang are two of the easier foils to compare and contrast to in the series, especially in the RWBY/CRME contrasts between Ruby/Cinder, Weiss/Emerald, Blake/Roman and later Adam and Yang/Mercury. Both are close range fights with firearms strapped to their limbs of choice, both have cybernetic limbs and as we learn later this episode, both had fathers with wildly differing views on their Semblances. But something else that connects them is that neither Mercury or Yang stay down for long when they get knocked out. Yang lost her arm and once she got back on her feet, she updated her fighting style to be more acrobatic and all-around, which paid off in dividends when she got to fight Adam and was able to move around his strikes. Similarly, the first time we see Mercury get some free time after Haven, he’s training... except he’s working on his fists, since he was overly reliant on his legs until now. I like this, it would have been easy to have Mercury just working on his legs or even just doing nothing but not only does it give the conversation a more lively feel, but it shows that Mercury is working on covering his weaknesses. And if there’s one thing Mercury hates, it’s leaving a weakness uncovered.

Your daily reminder that Yang vs Mercury is some of the best choreography in the show BTW

Emerald, seemingly out of boredom, decides to pry a bit and asks Mercury why he came with Cinder and Emerald in the Volume 3 flashback. I’ve seen some people criticize that Emerald is only asking this now, but given how when she tried to object to Cinder she got a slap for her troubles, I think it’s safe to say she decided it wasn’t worth Cinder’s wrath a second time for asking too many questions about Mercury.

Mercury tries deflecting with a simple answer “Just made sense,” to which Emerald calls bullshit with one of the most deadpan-laden lines she’s ever uttered. “It ‘made sense.’”

Mercury decides to keep up that path, trying to cover the question with his usual sarcasm and wit. It’s notable that his explanation gives nothing away that Emerald didn’t already know- Marcus trained Mercury to be an assassin, Mercury killed him and right afterwards, Cinder showed up. It’s almost clinical how, despite covering it with his usual wit, Mercury doesn’t let anything slip until Emerald gets under his skin by calling bullshit again, since to her that Mercury joined Cinder for as shallow a reason as “right place right time” is anathema to her- there has to be something in this for Mercury beyond just getting to fight. Mercury again deflects, giving Emerald knowledge she already knows- “Salem’s promised us everything. We win this thing, we’ll be top dogs in her new world.” Again, he’s only telling her what she already knows, and when he asks her what she gets out of this, Mercury manages to throw Emerald off the scent and tricks her into talking about herself- a topic Mercury enjoys because it means he’s not the one under the microscope.

Something I adore and hate in equal measure is how musically when Emerald talks about Cinder, the score itself changes to a more whimsical version of Cinder’s theme- as if Emerald’s using her Semblance on the soundtrack itself to paint Cinder in a better light.

Also something worth noting is the lighting symbolism for Emerald in the first part of this scene:

She starts in darkness, surrounded by light.

When Mercury gets a rise out of her, she walks out into the light to confront him, but Mercury moves into the darkness, a barrier separating them. But when Emerald begins talking about Cinder...

The camera pans to put Emerald back into darkness. This scene is loaded with this kind of symbolism on a lighting and musical level, the two dancing around the edges of light and dark, separated usually by the barriers that form from the overhead light.

Regardless, Mercury is perfectly fine to let Emerald prattle on about Cinder, right up until Emerald begins having a crisis of conscience. Not one based on how Cinder used her to stage a terrorist attack, no. Mercury butts in when Emerald’s crisis of conscience is based on how now that Cinder isn’t here, Emerald isn’t sure if they’re doing the right thing. And thus Mercury’s fandom finally got to see the scene they had been waiting years for: Mercury telling Emerald Cinder doesn’t care for them. Emerald gets angry, still caught up in the web of lies that Cinder spun around her, but Mercury doesn’t give a solitary shit about any of that and keeps saying things Emerald doesn’t want to hear- that Cinder never cared about Emerald, let alone either of them.

I absolutely adore how the ever-present smirk on Mercury’s face just melts off while he’s trying to get Emerald to realize Cinder never cared for them- either because he’s done playing nice or because he’s trying to stress to Emerald that he’s not messing around, just this once.

Mercury’s mocking line to Emerald finally sets her off, and she charges him furiously, trying to beat him into shutting up. But it doesn’t work- of course it wouldn’t, Mercury is leagues above Emerald in skill even if she uses her weapons, going in without them is tantramount to suicide. This guy danced around Coco and Yatuhashi and gave Yang and Pyrrha good fights while deliberately throwing both fights. Beating Emerald would take less than a minute if he tried. But he doesn’t. Mercury never actually hits Emerald, focusing on just blocking her blows. It’s only when Mercury finally decides to stop giving Emerald information she already knows and actually give her some honest truth that he begins trying, and immediately Emerald is forced back. But even then, Mercury throws his kicks. Compared to the ones he threw in training they’re sluggish, easily predicted. He’s not trying to hurt Emerald, he’s just stressing his point.

Literal chills went down my back when I heard that line the first time, Yuri killed it.

Mercury basically decides to throw his abuse in Emerald’s face, which I’ve seen some people deride and describe as Mercury basically playing the victim card, but I think this is perfectly in-character for him. Emerald’s locked in her cycle of abuse with Cinder, even though the bitch is on another continent and now is the perfect time for Emerald to break free, to get out before Cinder maims her like Marcus did Mercury... and she’s not. Taking. The chance. Of course Mercury would be pissed, of course he’d get heated for the first time- he’s basically watching Emerald squander one of the only chances she has to get out of this life before Cinder catches her again, and he (and the audience) know if Cinder gets her hands on Emerald again, that’ll be it; Emerald will be ride or die for Cinder all the way to the finish line due to her paternal/romantic love. If it takes Mercury being this most callous and blunt he’s ever been to finally get Emerald to see the truth or even just to make sure where she draws her battlelines, then he’ll do whatever it takes.

As we get an orchestral reprise of I’m The One, Mercury finally gives us a new hint into his backstory- one of the most fucked up of all the cast according to Kerry- for the first time in three years. Marcus didn’t just beat Mercury senseless, didn’t just excuse it as training and potentially even cut off Mercury’s legs to refine him into a perfect killer- he stole Mercury’s Semblance with his own, seeing it as a crutch that Mercury relied on and holding it over his head with the promise of its return once Mercury got strong. To quote the normally Unirkable Merc himself, “So I got strong, but I never got it back!”

Mercury forced himself to get on the level of titans like Pyrrha and Yang without having the safety net of a Semblance like they have- he got strong in spite of his father, not because of Marcus taking his power from him. But that power- that strength that lets him fight at a skill ceiling beyond what Marcus likely thought possible, destroyed this young child. It stole from Mercury, things that he can never get back- a literal piece of his soul was taken from him and the thrill of the fight is the only thing he’s ever found that can fill the hole. That confidence is earned because Mercury was defiled by his father and spat in the face of destiny, he chose to get back up and try and earn back what was rightfully his. And when he got the strength to kill his abuser and burn his house down, just to realize he couldn’t get that power back? In walked Cinder Fall, looking for another lost youth to corrupt and twist the worldview of- and here was one such youth, with all the corruption done complete with a neat little bow on top.

All of this- all of this- goes without mentioning how not two volumes prior we had a different character go through an arc involving her Semblance and a father figure teaching her how to control it and not let it control her.

I’m just saying guys if you still wanna live in denial over Yang and Merc’s foil status and how they’d be the coolest rivals in the show, door’s right there, I’m gonna be here eagerly awaiting their proper rematch (Fuck off and die Volume 5, you mountain of wasted potential).

The kicker (pun not intended) is Mercury’s line at the end of the training with Emerald- “I’m right where I’m supposed to be,” he confidently declares, absolutely sure in himself. The whole dynamic of the scene has been Mercury and Emerald calling bullshit on each other’s excuses, with Mercury dominating once he got Emerald to play the Cinder card. But he gets so caught up in his rage over how he got defiled by Marcus, that he loses sight for a second and forgets that he’s lying to himself as much as Emerald- the difference is he’s gone thought he cycle before and seen it so he can see that Emerald’s in it, but he hasn’t yet realized he’s gotten caught in a different cycle and still can’t see the trees from the forest. Denial is a recurring trait in Mercury and Emerald, and one neither of them are ever truly free from (”Salem promised us everything,” like how Marcus promised you back your Semblance, Mercury?). Emerald attacking Mercury after he mocks her “crisis of identity” can almost be taken as her subconsciously agreeing with Merc that Cinder doesn’t care, but after all she’s done for Cinder, everyone she’s hurt and helped kill, the idea that it was all for less than nothing is something she’s got to run away from- the alternative is just too nightmarish.

Mercury “I’m right where I’m supposed to be” Black, ladies and gents. He’s feeling really confident in these scenes, can’t you tell?!

And who sees this and realizes it, but none other than Tyrian fucking Callows of all people. And of all the people in Salem’s castle, who expected him to be an adept armchair psychologist? Tyrian is blunt, completely unforgiving in his assessment of Mercury and Emerald- they’re trapped in a cycle of violence, pain and misery, and they’re too afraid of what’s on the other side to ever leave it- what’s waiting for Mercury out in the world of Remnant? All he can do is kill, and now that he’s burned his bridges with Huntsmen society, all he’d wind up doing is assassination work like father like son. Granted, Tyrian being the one to break this down to them both is... ironic given how Tyrian himself is trapped in Salem’s web of devotion and has been for so long he couldn’t find his way out if he wanted to, but here he raises a valid point.

After this the scene mostly moves away from Mercury and Emerald and becomes Tyrian informing them and the audience that Watts and Tyrian are going to Atlas to intercept RWBY, but before he leaves, Tyrian leaves some parting advice.

“Do what makes you happy children, please? I’m begging you.”

Reading through the mile-wide lines, it’s obvious Tyrian wants them to run so he can hunt them down himself, even though he denies telling them they should leave earlier when Emerald asks point-blank if he’s telling them to go (of course he isn’t saying that, he wants them to come to the conclusion himself, no fun stalking prey when the hunt’s made easy for you after all). But the scene ends with a somewhat more optimistic note.

Emerald and Mercury, still unsure about a lot of things after this group therapy session, are still standing together, almost more unified than they were before now- no barriers of light and darkness separating the two now. And that should be something that terrifies anyone who crosses their paths, especially the guy who made a point to T-Bag Mercury and basically promise he’ll draw the straw on killing them if they stray out of line.

3) Conclusion

Mercury and Emerald are my favorite characters in the show, and while that’s been a bit harder to maintain in the Dark Times of Volumes 4 and 5 where they got nothing to do, 6 reminded me and a lot of other people why they’re the characters to keep an eye on in future years. They have these wonderfully dark backstories that let them serve as haunting foils for two members of team RWBY each (Emerald and Ruby and Weiss, Mercury for Blake and Yang) that show how far things could have gone if the RWBY girls had been born with a bit less luck. On top of all that, I’m The One is just a killer of a song that excites with its spiteful air, its cockiness only accentuating how horrific these two have had it.

Mercury and Emerald start the Mistral seasons separated by a barrier (the window) but after their conversation in Lost and time away from Cinder, the barrier’s gone. They’re closer than they were before. And Merc got his eyebrows back too, that’s a sign he started caring about Emerald!

Their scene in Lost I feel encapsulates a lot of what keeps them together and what makes for one of RWBY’s best dynamics- they don’t really like each other a lot of the time, but they have each other’s back come hell or high water because they need each other like a lifeline. Mercury does, at least a little, genuinely care for Emerald; he goes about it in a dickish way but trying to recognize Cinder’s abusive behavior is one of the most noble things he’s done all show. And while Emerald did try to attack him, he goaded her into it and she was indignant with rage when Tyrian pinned Merc down. Everything about the scene just works for me, from the small musical cues (alongside the return of I’m The One and Cinder’s theme, I love how right before Emerald attacks Mercury, this beeping starts and then accelerates into this droning sound like a flatline, which really captures Emerald’s temper reaching fever pitch and then snapping, to the lighting symbolism (Merc and Em both begin the scene in darkness but come together in the light at the end after Tyrian leaves, alongside everything I said above) and of course, Katie Newville and Yuri Lowenthal both knocking it out of the park with a home run of a performance, alongside Josh Grelle being his usual self when Tyrian shows up. While it was overshadowed by Jaune’s scene with the Pyrrha statue, I’d be very comfortable marking Emerald and Mercury’s spotlight scene in Lost as not just a highlight of the season, but one of the best scenes of the entire show. Everything came together for this ambrosia of a scene, and I can only hope I sold how much it means to me and how much I appreciate the work that went into it on a technical, writing, animation, acting and musical level.

Keep an eye on Merc and Em is all I’m saying, and if you’ve written them off in the past, I hope this convinced you to take another look at them and hope they get their due time to shine in future.

Thank you for reading.

#rwby #mercury black #emerald sustrai #Tyrian Callows #yang xiao long #salem #marcus black #taiyang xiao long #rwby analysis #yuri lowenthal #katie newville #rwby volume 6 chapter 4 #rwby volume 6 chapter 9 #josh grelle #rwby6 #so that's how it is #lost

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silvokrent · 5 years ago

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The Prices We’ve Paid - 1

In the aftermath of the Fall, Emerald starts to realize she might be out of her depth.

There were days—once far and few in-between, but now becoming increasingly more frequent—when Emerald was relieved the entirety of their plans didn’t hinge solely on Cinder’s confidence.

Not that the surety was unwarranted. Tonight had been the culmination of months spent carefully vetting and recruiting numbers to their cause, compromising the kingdom’s defenses, theft and sabotage and infiltration and death of a magnitude that Remnant hadn’t seen in nearly a century. Cinder had been meticulous in leaving little to chance, and in the end, they succeeded.

Or very nearly, anyway.

Emerald struggled not to lose her footing on the gnarled root of a tree, nearly-overbalancing to compensate for the weight borne between them. Beside her, Mercury faltered in his pace, pausing long enough to readjust the limp form braced by his shoulder. The light of the shattered moon and distant flames illuminated the sheen of sweat on his face, and the haunted, hunted look he did little to hide. She never thought she would have found herself missing his obnoxious arrogance or haughty disdain for everyone around him, if only because it was something familiar. Anything would have been better than the sobering panic he wore, that she was sure perfectly mirrored her own.

“We’re close to the extraction point, right?” Emerald asked, when the silence became too much. Well, no, silence wasn’t the right word. Even with all the distance they’d put between themselves and the city wall, she could still hear the screams of people and the spine-chilling ululations of the Grimm.

Mercury pulled out his scroll and thumbed through a mess of readouts on the screen. “It’s about thirty meters northeast from here. Rendezvous’s gonna be a spot in Forever Fall. Figure it should only be another ten minutes.” He scowled. “Probably not though, seeing as we’re sort of inconvenienced at the moment. We could get there faster if we just—”

“Don’t,” Emerald snapped.

“For fuck’s sake, Emerald, look at her.” It was kind of hard not to, with her adrenaline-overdosed brain jumping back and forth between spellbound morbid curiosity and gut-churning disgust. Emerald made an effort to keep her eyes fixed ahead, determinedly ignoring Mercury’s glare. “She’s slowing us down. And if by some miracle the Grimm don’t pursue us, she’s lost a lot of blood. Who knows if there’s anything left to even save.”

Her pulse jumped in her throat. “The Grimm aren’t going to go after three people while there’s still the entirety of Vale,” Emerald said in what she hoped passed for a reasonable tone. “And—” She weighed her options against all the things she actually wanted to say (she’s our leader, we wouldn’t be here without her, we’ve survived worse, abandoning her is wrong) and decided that appealing to Mercury’s self-interest would get her the results she wanted. “What happens when we show up without her? What happens when she finds out we made that call?”

A vicious satisfaction surged through her as Mercury, however discreetly, flinched.

“We already lost our chance at getting the Relic. How forgiving do you think she’d be if she found out we lost the Fall Maiden, too?”

Very faintly, she could make out the sound of teeth grinding together.

In the end self-preservation won out, and to her relief Mercury didn’t argue. On some tacit agreement they resumed their trek in tense silence, with the only interruptions being the occasional grunt of exertion, the snap of a twig underfoot, or an incoherent noise of pain. Fortunately her theory held true and they moved through the shadows of the trees unaccosted, though it did little to quell the anxiety savagely beating against her ribs. The thoughts came unbidden, and Emerald tried (and failed) to not dwell on the very real possibility of Mercury’s words.

There had been a lot of blood. And in the pandemonium of the aftermath, they’d had little time to make a full assessment between digging through rubble and sprinting through the hysteria-induced crowds toward the outskirts of the commercial district. Were it not for the shallows puffs of air against the side of her neck, she could have forgiven him for assuming otherwise.

She could have, but the odds of that were up there with the ones of ripping off one of his prosthetic legs and proceeding to bludgeon him to death. For now, at least, he was keeping his spiteful cynicism to himself.

Her uneasy train of thought was interrupted by the sight of a dim glow in the gap of the trees.

Emerald stopped and gestured with her free arm in the direction of the light. After briefly consulting his scroll, Mercury nodded, and they pushed their way through the undergrowth.

During the final stages of preparation it had been a foregone conclusion that Atlas’ fleet would be too preoccupied with the White Fang, Grimm, and overridden mechs to pay mind to any lone airship that just so happened to blip on the edge of their radar. Despite this, Cinder had been loathe to let a getaway vehicle anywhere near her preparations, with the merest hint at a contingency plan from Torchwick nearly earning him a second-degree burn. To even suggest the need for one implied failure, an implication which Cinder did not take to kindly. It was only when Salem was consulted on the matter, and made it clear that retreat must be considered a possible outcome, did Cinder relent.

It made sense, really, when Emerald had tried to approach the issue from Cinder’s perspective. Contingency plans were a sign of ineptitude. That you didn’t posses the resolve or skill to succeed, that you openly acknowledged your inability to account for what could go wrong. Cinder had accounted for everything, and therefore nothing could go wrong.

A mutinous voice at the back of her mind (the one Mercury liked to mock whenever they were beset by boredom and passed the time by bickering) tried to empathize. Emerald had wanted to believe her. And as she’d watched from the rooftop—the wyvern perched atop Beacon Tower, stygian tar dripping from its wings and Cinder’s outstretched hand caressing its skeletal maw as the world burned below them—she had.

Their encumbered pace brought them to the edge of the small clearing where the airship idled. A seamless door slid open on the hull, pooling light on the ground ahead of them. Emerald squinted against the glare as a familiar silhouette stepped into view.

“Just because the CCT has fallen does not mean local communication was disrupted,” said Watts, by way of greeting. They’d only dealt with him a handful of times in the last year, as Cinder preferred to minimize her and her team’s interactions with him. It hadn’t taken them long to figure out why. Salem made sure to fill the ranks of her council with people of varying occupations and skillsets, and it had taken all of thirty seconds of listening to Watts talk before Emerald had filed him under the heading of Professional Bastard.

Of course it was their luck that he’d been assigned to extraction, in the event of a worst-case scenario.

Then again, he was apparently some sort of doctor, so maybe it was their luck.

Time to find out.

Mercury bristled. “Sorry, but it’s kind of hard to call ahead when we’re running and avoiding capture.”

“And whose fault is that, I wonder?” Watts said. He brushed his hands down the front of his overcoat, narrowed eyes peering into the darkness where he couldn’t see, but still heard them approach. “Were I not concerned with the impending consequences, I would congratulate you on the manner in which you failed. I suppose if you were going to waste our one chance at victory, then might as well do it with style. That was quite the lightshow. I think there were a few people in Mantle that didn’t go blind just now.”

“That wasn’t us,” Emerald said, an edge creeping into her voice. She took another step toward their escape, desperately trying to ignore the stab of agitation at the seconds ticking by. “We need to get onboard and leave. Cinder is—”

“Ah, yes. Our fledgling Maiden. I did wonder how she fared.” He had the audacity to smirk. Were she not making the effort to fight off exhaustion, Emerald might have considered the risk worth striking him. Agitation and fear were quickly fraying what little patience she had left, and if Mercury’s clenched fist was any indicator, consequences be damned was going to become a battle cry very soon. “Our lady invested quite the time and resources into her training. It would be a shame to learn that it had all been for naught.”

“Then see for yourself,” Mercury spat. At last he stepped forward and pulled Emerald with him into full view, carrying with them the third member of their party.

The emotion slid from Watts’ face.

“Bring her onboard and set her down, now,” he ordered.

“What did you think we were trying to tell you?” Mercury’s barbed remark was predictably ignored, not that Emerald really cared. Watts had already disappeared to the front of the ship by the time they’d hastened Cinder’s limp form onto one of the benches by the wall.

For the first time since they’d hauled Cinder from the wreckage, Emerald was able to get a clear, unobstructed look at the extent of her injuries. It occurred to her, somewhere, in the region of her brain not preoccupied with gaping like a fish, that a lifetime spent in poverty had given her a pretty great front row seat to the unflinching horrors of the world. What people looked like as they starved to death, what people smelled like as untreated wounds turned gangrene from medical neglect. What people sounded like as they died in anonymity, begging for help from passersby that would avert their gaze and double their pace. The familiarity had taken on a role reversal in recent months, courtesy of Cinder’s benefactors, and Emerald could now say that she’d perpetrated quite a few of those horrors herself, with the odd homicide or two thrown in for good measure.

A lifetime of horror had made Emerald assume she was immune to the worst of it by now, only to realize she needed to seriously update her definition of worst.

The arm was the most immediate and visually arresting. Halfway down the appendage, just above where the elbow should have been, hung strips of mangled flesh. Debris and bone fragments sullied the wound, darkening the blood that had begun to trickle around the remains of the limb.

There was a sudden, plummeting sensation in her midriff, accompanied by a bout of nausea Emerald very nearly failed to suppress. Not wanting to vomit on her boss, she decided to focus on Cinder’s face instead.

And immediately regretted it.

A mutilated stump was a lot to take in, but at least it still looked like a limb. Cinder’s face was all but unrecognizable. Skin had been asymmetrically burned away into a topographic map of red-and-white flesh that furrowed here, peaked there, as if it were suspended in the process of melting. Where an eye should have been was a congealed mass of raw flesh and fluid that pooled into the socket. Only the right side of Cinder’s face remained unmarred, comparatively speaking. Amidst the pallor of the skin her remaining eye shone wetly, the pupil dilated to a pinprick, unfocused on the people crowding above her.

“She looks…bad,” Emerald managed, when her vocal cords finally remembered how to work. As far as descriptors went it was pretty underwhelming, and judging by Mercury’s unimpressed frown, he agreed.

“She looks nearly dead,” Mercury corrected her, rather unnecessarily at that. Okay, it was more accurate than “bad,” but it still made Emerald want to punch him. Common sense quickly banished the impulse from her thoughts. Both of them were low on Aura and running on fumes, and getting into an impromptu fistfight on a moving aircraft probably wasn’t the smartest plan she could’ve come up with. Instead, she focused on trying to drag air through her lungs, wincing at the burning sensation from the smoke she’d inhaled. The gesture did enough to clear her mind though, and bring with it another intrusive thought.

“Why hasn’t she said anything?” Torn between the desire to touch and the instinctive fear of Cinder lashing out at any physical contact, Emerald hovered nearby, arms folded over her chest. “She made noise when we transported her, so she’s definitely conscious. I think.”

Mercury frowned, this time in thought rather than contempt. “It could be some injury we’re not seeing.”

“Perhaps if you moved,” said a voice from behind, “I could find out why.”

In the time between configuring the flight controls and rejoining them, Watts had donned a blue-gray lab coat and retrieved a pinstriped physician’s bag. With an impatient shooing gesture he strode past them and set it down on the benchside table.

“Formalities first. Cinder”—Watts leaned forward—“if you’re alert then I need you to prove it. Can you speak?”

His only answer was a faint, rasping breath.

“I assumed as much.” A critical eye swept lengthwise over his patient as he removed a pair of latex gloves from his bag. “Not that it particularly matters, but in the event you can still hear me, I assume you’re consenting to whatever treatment methods I deem necessary.”

She could've imagined it, but Emerald thought she saw Cinder’s chest rise and fall a little faster.

Mercury, meanwhile, had made himself comfortable leaning against a nearby wall, close enough that he could still watch the proceedings. It was a deceptively casual gesture that to the untrained eye would have given the impression of indifference. It was also a complete lie and fooling no one, so Emerald really didn’t see why he bothered. Couldn’t he at least pretend to look worried?

Then, to her surprise, he spoke up: “You’re not seriously going to perform surgery on her now, are you? Right here? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“More or less dangerous than leaving her to hemorrhage everywhere?” Watts asked dryly. He arched a slender brow at Mercury. “If you’re squeamish then by all means, you’re welcome to leave the room.”

“Leave the—? It’s an airship with one room and a cockpit.”

“Precisely,” Watts drawled. He slipped a surgical mask over his face, but not before Emerald caught a flash of teeth. “So I suggest you get over yourself rather quickly.”

There was a pause as he removed another piece of equipment from his bag, before he added, almost as an afterthought: “And to answer your earlier question, no. I’m merely seeing that she arrives in stable condition. We’ll operate upon our return.”

That got her attention. Emerald exchanged a wary glance with Mercury, before curiosity got the better of her. “You actually never said where we were—”

That was exactly when Cinder decided she’d had enough, and with an incoherent cry slammed the heel of her foot into Watts’ ribs.

The blow caused him to stagger backward, although it lacked any of the usual strength behind it. The most it achieved was creating a meter gap between them. With a swear Watts closed the distance, sidestepping a second kick aimed for his head and pinning her with the weight of his arm in the same fluid motion. The proximity caused Cinder to thrash harder, teeth bared in a snarl.

It took Emerald a stupidly long moment to realize she was still standing there, occupying about the same level of uselessness as Mercury, who hadn’t even vacated his spot by the wall. Uncertainly she took a step forward, wanting to intervene but not sure how, or even who, to help.

It was a decision that became irrelevant a second later, as Watts had finally managed to wrestle what looked like a syringe out of his bag. Before either of them had the chance to react, he’d stretched out her intact arm and jabbed the needle into the skin. An eerie, cold sensation, like the kind Emerald got whenever in the presence of Grimm, settled in her gut as she watched the fire fade from Cinder’s remaining eye. Her face slackened into an emotion that she couldn’t read (not that it was necessarily a good one), and with a final gasp the tension bled from her body.

Cautiously, Watts straightened to his full height. He collected himself with a quiet exhale, and then scowled at the copious blood stains that had soaked their way into his coat.

“I suppose I’ll have to dry clean this,” he announced to no one in particular.

Emerald must have been telegraphing her thoughts pretty hard, so she didn’t exactly jump so much as dramatically fidget when Watts answered her unspoken question: “That was a general anesthetic. It should keep her unconscious for…well, for however long I decide. If nothing else, the silence is an improvement.”

Prick.

Weighing the pros and cons, Emerald crept a little closer, while maintaining an apprehensive amount of space. It wasn’t so much a lack of faith in the drug so much as it was a lot of faith in Cinder. And the reasonably healthy paranoia of nothing short of a rhino tranquilizer keeping her boss down. A paranoia that may or may not have been stoked a little by the sight of Watts touching her arm and fastening a tourniquet to the bicep.

“Why did she do that?” Not that Emerald blamed Cinder in the slightest. “How was she even able to do any of that?”

“You’d think bleeding to death would take a lot out of you," Mercury added. Emerald shot him a glare.

“It does, or hadn’t you noticed her inability to fight?” What would have ordinarily been a derisive remark sounded almost pleasantly neutral—or rather, what passed for “pleasantly neutral” from Watts, if only because his focus was on the windlass he was torqueing against her skin. “That little outburst certainly clarified a few things in retrospect. I suspected this would be the case, if the earlier unresponsiveness and confusion hadn’t been dead giveaways—oh dear, that was rather insensitive, wasn’t it?”

If she concentrated hard enough, Emerald could picture the smirk beneath the surgical mask.

“Clarified what, exactly?” Mercury prompted, after a beat of silence.

Watts clipped the windlass into place and jotted something down on the strap. “Her current condition, which lines up with the other symptoms she’s been exhibiting since you dragged her onto the ship.” He reached down and secured Cinder’s wrist with one hand, pressing two of his fingers against the skin. He lapsed into a momentary silence before releasing the appendage, and inscribing something on a holographic tablet with a stylus. “Reduced temperature to extremities, pale complexion and clamminess, pulse one hundred and thirty beats per minute, heightened anxiety and panic, respiratory rate estimated at thirty breaths per minute.” He tsk’d. “Even without the measurements for systolic and diastolic pressure it’s safe to infer she’s in the early onset of hypervolemic shock. That would place blood loss at…” Watts tapped the end of the stylus to his chin. “About a liter and a half, give or take.”

“What?” Emerald lurched forward. Out of her periphery she saw Mercury’s expression go blank. “Are you serious?”

“Oh, quite.” Watts’ eyes didn’t stray from whatever was so fucking fascinating on his screen. “Do bear in mind that she’s lost an arm. Amputations tend to be rather bloody affairs.”

“Then do something about it!” Mercury snapped. For a moment, Emerald was taken aback by the venom in his voice, only to belatedly remember that she’d convinced him that making sure Cinder didn’t die was in their best interest. Well, that was reassuring. In a messed-up sort of way.

“I am,” Watts said. Rather pointedly he set down the tablet and went about retrieving his supply bag. “The pressure I set in place is constricting the blood vessels. Not that it matters, seeing as her brachial artery was completely severed by whatever put her in this sorry condition. That's some good news, I suppose.”

“Good news?” Emerald made a strangled, indignant sound. “How is a severed artery good news?”

“Because it induces a process called vasospasm.” With an elastic snap Watts removed his gloves. “In any other circumstance that would be a problem, as it would lead to ischemia and tissue death. Here, it’s acting like a clamp and preventing the artery from hosing everything in blood. Factor in what I’ve already done to minimize blood loss, and dear Cinder shouldn’t be losing another liter any time soon.”

What should have been reassuring only dialed up Emerald’s stress to an eleven. It seemed to be a mutual sentiment, as Mercury didn’t resume his original post by the wall, but actually came to stand next to her. If Watts cared about having an audience then he didn’t show it, as he busied himself with swapping out a fresh pair of gloves and fetching a tube he’d left off to the side of the bench.

A thrill of revulsion and discomfort shot through her as Watts dabbed the ointment onto his fingers, and with obscene gentleness, began to massage it into the burns on Cinder’s face. Just the mere act of watching him touch her made Emerald want to do—something. Probably something dramatic and stupid and not at all helpful to their current predicament. In a vain effort to distract herself from the whooshing sensation in her gut, she wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

Thank the gods or pathetically good timing that Mercury decided at that moment to offer a distraction, in the form of what seemed like a fairly obvious question: “Look, I’m not going to pretend to know anything about medicine—”

“And yet you’re still talking,” Watts said.

“—but shouldn’t she be hooked up to IVs and crap? What about an oxygen mask?”

Weird how that was the thing that got Watts to stop, long enough to shoot the pair a withering look. “Does this look like a hospital to you?”

Only Mercury could make a talent of taking all the insolence in the world and packaging it into a single shrug.

“This model of airship is designed for fast transport, not medical intervention and treatment. The extent of what I can do is everything laid out before you.” He’d gone for a second application of the topical cream—Emerald could make out the words silver sulfadiazine on the label, though what that was or what it did she had no idea—and resumed rubbing it into the skin. “Once I have access to my equipment I can begin a blood transfusion, and get her on a saline drip. For now, we make do.”

Which wasn’t exactly great news, but Watts seemed to know what he was talking about, and it wasn’t like they had any other options. Mercifully he withdrew his hand and binned the soiled gloves.

“What about her Aura?” Emerald asked. “I know depleted Auras can take a while to recover, but they’re part of the healing process for us. Shouldn’t hers have started to come back?”

It didn’t sound nearly as reasoned-out as it had in her head, and Emerald might have been grasping at straws by that point. She’d hit a profoundly new degree of desperate if she was relying on conversations with Watts for reassurance

But at least he was humoring her, even if the scornful eye-roll indicated that such questions were beneath him and a clear waste of his time. “That depends on the extent of the injuries, which in her case are rather impressive, if you can describe incompetence as such.”

A hand shot out and grabbed Emerald by the shoulder. Thankfully Watts missed Mercury’s warning headshake. With a long exhale Emerald extricated herself from his grip and stepped back.

“Until her body has healed up a bit on its own, her Aura won’t be regenerating any time soon.” Then, to her surprise, Watts pocketed his scroll and turned to face them, arms braced against the bench. “Of course, I could expedite that process if I knew what caused it.”

Emerald briefly faltered under his scrutiny and shot a helpless glance at Mercury. “We…actually don’t know what happened,” she answered, after a brief internal debate. “She was like that when we found her.”

“Oh?” he drawled. “Do tell.”

“There’s nothing really to tell.” Mercury crossed his arms. “We were the first people to get there. There weren’t any signs of what did that to her. Cinder was delirious and sort of confused, and that dragon-Grimm was turned to stone.”

Watts’ eyes narrowed, and he inclined his head to the side. Emerald didn’t like the sudden interest.

“And her assailant?” he asked. “Had they already fled?”

It took a second for her brain to connect his question with what she’d seen, and even then, Emerald really wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but it certainly wasn’t what they’d found. “There was another student—a girl who goes to Beacon. She was out cold when we got there. No injuries. At least, none we could see.”

“Not like we were taking the time to give her a full-body physical,” Mercury added. Though that hadn’t stopped him from kicking Ruby in the torso as they’d collected their half-conscious employer and scrambled back down the tower.

Whatever Watts thought of that, he didn’t say. There was an assessing quality to his expression as he gave them a precursory once-over. “Were either of you injured during the battle?”

“No,” said Mercury. Emerald shook her head.

“Good. Leave it that way.”

Emerald recognized a dismissal when she heard one, and frankly, she didn’t need to be told twice. That went double for Mercury, who wasted no time in staking out a corner of the ship that was relatively free of clutter, and with a grunt, prizing off Talaria. He’d produced a screwdriver from somewhere on his person (seriously, where was he hiding all these tools?) and began to make adjustments to his protheses. Watts, meanwhile, went about cleaning up his work station, discarding the facial mask and sanitizing any surfaces of blood.

Which left Emerald rather aimless. Down time hadn’t exactly been a thing during her childhood, with every moment spent pickpocketing strangers, stealing food, or looking for shelter. Her upgrade from homeless street rat to criminal accomplice hadn’t changed much there either, as she’d immediately been consulted on everything, from planning heists to acquiring assets. It was only during their undercover operation at Beacon she’d found herself with a sudden surplus of free time, and an overwhelming uncertainty of what to do with it, exactly.

Standing in the middle of the ship, Emerald realized she still hadn’t figured out what to do with it, and it was eating away at her nerves. The offer to help Mercury with maintenance momentarily crossed her mind, only to be discarded just as quickly. He would have thrown her off the airship just for bringing it up. And she’d rather jam scalpels into her eyes before she asked Watts if he needed a hand.

And so, with nothing better to do, Emerald began to pace the length of the ship.

It was on her fifteenth pass when Watts finally looked up from whatever he’d been doing by the bench. “You know,” he said, in a voice that went for impassive and fell a little short, “it’s going to be a rather long flight. You might consider getting some sleep.”

And stop annoying me. He didn’t voice that part. Not that he needed to.

“I’m not tired,” Emerald answered, only to be betrayed by the yawn she wasn’t quick enough to hide.

Watts’ lips twitched in the beginnings of a smirk. “Clearly.”

Just the suggestion of sleep opened the floodgates for all the exhaustion of the past few hours, from wherever it had been conveniently stashed away until now. Brains were funny like that. “No, really, I’m fine. I don’t need to sleep.”

“Would you like a second opinion from a licensed physician?” Watts asked meanly.

Emerald turned to face him, and was struck by the sight of him standing by Cinder, another syringe in hand. Suspicion crowded out any previous fatigue. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take turns keeping an eye on her,” she offered, in what she hoped passed for nonchalance. “I could take the first watch.”

Watts studied her for all of three seconds before he let out a low chuckle. (This time, Emerald did jump.) “Do you honestly believe I spent the last hour patching up the little drama queen only to off her the second your eyes were closed?” He sneered. “For that matter, do you think either of you is in fit enough condition to stop me, even if I wanted to?”

Emerald really wished she had some clever insult to fire back with. That he’d seen right through her was making it a little hard to concentrate.

“I’m merely giving her another sedative, so she doesn’t wake up and try to put a hole in the ship.” Watts stroked his chin. “I couldn’t allow it in good conscience if you were deliberately neglecting your rest. Perhaps I could help with that.” He gestured ever-so-minutely with the syringe.

Message received. Emerald warily retreated a step or two back. The other implication in his words finally caught up to her, about patching Cinder up, and she spoke before she could stop herself. “So she’s really going to live?”

“Yes. Unfortunately.”

“But you can fix her?” Emerald gestured to what was left of the arm, now obscured by some sort of tarp.

Watts heaved a sigh that was more theatrics than sincere. “If I wasn’t the most distinguished person in my field, some other hapless soul would be standing here, tending to this mess. Yes, I can fix her.”

A breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding shakily left her.

“Now either find something useful to do or make yourself scarce. You don’t want to leave that choice up to me.”

“Em.”

Emerald turned to see Mercury regarding her with a look that, while not friendly, was a step up from his usual stick-up-the-ass MO. He appeared to be deliberating on something that he hadn’t yet come to regret, but was about to any moment.

Honestly, she really, really didn’t have time for this.

Before Emerald could say as much (along with a couple other mean things) Mercury reached a decision. Very awkwardly, he patted the spot next to him.

Emerald blinked.

Apparently she took too long for his liking, because he snorted and went back to tightening a bolt on one of the legs.

Much as she wanted to stand there and contemplate the universe and whatever planetary alignment was causing him to act like a decent person, sleep beckoned. On unsteady feet she trod over to the wall, and slid down to the floor next to Mercury. For a moment Emerald entertained the hilarious thought of using his shoulder as a pillow, but decided not to push her luck. She’d slept in worse conditions. A little discomfort was doable.

Very doable, in fact. She was out before she had the chance to think about the horrible neck pain that would be awaiting her when she woke up.

#rwby #rwby fics #rwby thought dump #the prices we've paid #emerald sustrai #mercury black #cinder fall #arthur watts #tw: amputation #tw: gore #tw: surgery #tw: burns #filling in the gaps for volumes 3 and 4 #my posts #i speak

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rosebelladonna · 5 years ago

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That AU where they were partners... headcanons pls?

After Ruby tells her how she wants to be a hero and make the world a better place, Blake goes off the cliff planning on finding her.

Blake finds her easily and steps out in front of her while she's rushing about looking for Yang

Ruby is really quiet and shy while they look for the 'relics' and Blake is like "??? You're allowed to like. Talk yknow" and Ruby kinda blushes and goes "I...don't know how to hold a conversation with you..." and immediately Blake is like "Yes This Was A Perfect Plan" bc. Ruby is So Cute

When Ruby says they should hitch a ride on a Nevermore, Blake is just like "no you're absolutely right. lets go" bc truly? Blake is canonically always down for Ruby's schemes (except for at the beginning of v2 but she turned around p quick when the food fight happened)

just. so much slow blinking. and ruby picks up on that fast and does it back.

blake, soft smile, slow blink:

ruby: weiss,,,,,blake keeps blinking at me???

weiss: blink back, cats do it to show affection

ruby, blinking back:

blake: O///////O *runs away*

volume 2 is a lot of ruby being upset and jealous ab sun tbh. (just bc i feel like ruby is more predisposed to jealousy even if she doesnt realize the extent of her feelings)

when blake is overworking herself and doesn't want to go to the dance, ruby asks yang for advice on how to convince blake to go and yang is like "just tell her how much youd like to see her there!"

anyway where im going with that is ruby taking blake flowers and stammering her way through asking blake to the dance

blake is blushing and furious and asks if ruby is making fun of her or if sun set her up to do this and ruby is just like "no!!!!! i really want you to come to the dance and i especially want you to come with me!!!!" and basically they get kicked out of the library for yelling

blake rests up and meets ruby outside the dance and yang cheers and tells them how pretty they look

ruby clings to blake because she cant walk in heels and blake is just like "WHY AM I SO FLUSTERED BY THIS SHE'S JUST MY PARTNER. MY TEAM LEADER. WHY AM I BLUSHING!!!"

sun tries to cut in and ruby shoots him the nastiest glare. she doesnt know why either but SHE asked blake to the dance, dammit!

pyrrha and yang steal her away to dance with them in the end though and blake does dance with sun! she has fun! but she kinda misses how it felt to lead ruby in their awkward stilted dance (bc not being able to walk in heels is bad enough. trying to dance in them? eugh. hell.)

then weiss and yang both dance with blake and ruby steps out for a breath and so the dance arc goes about like it did in canon (with blake being Very Stressed when ruby comes back after disappearing for the last half of the dance and its much later than it should be)

i feel like the mountain glenn arc goes similarly, but with ruby actually listening to the rest of her team's conversation by the fire and her being the one to comment "youre not one to back down from a challenge, blake" and blake looks at her through the glow of the fire and she looks so sweet and sincere it nearly breaks her heart. ruby tells them to get some rest and that she'll wake the next person at shift change

and then yknow she gets caught by torchwick and goons

uhhh v3 headcanons include

ladybug going into the doubles match

ruby being the one framed (for injuring neo instead of mercury - em casts an illusion so that neo can still be the getaway driver)

blake being horrified bc like. ruby's emblem, dyed hair, speed, black + red aesthetic, red weapon and now her SWEARING this was an accident? its just too much.

but ruby's eyes are honest and so blake chooses to believe her and even does a little slow blink at her while yang wipes at ruby's face and promises to bring her back something sweet from the fairgrounds

yang + merc showdown happens in the tunnels to get to the other side of the arena after yang talks to velvet and realizes what the hell is going on during the penny pyrrha fight when she spots emerald

yang firing off shots at the nevermore in front of pyrrha and weiss rushing in with penny's sword to scream "get away from her!" (global warming? on MY ladybug blog? its more likely than u think)

blake is already calling her locker and trying to figure out how to get back to her partner

the blake adam fight happens in front of the tower and happens bc im shifting the timeline around to suit my needs

basically in my au here,,,,,,,,,pyrrha is taken to get the maiden powers earlier in the fall and cinder makes adam stand guard while she goes to get the wyvern

which means jaune calls the girls and wby goes to get pyrrha and then run into adam. blake even though she's terrified and not ready, tells them she'll hold him off. so then weiss and yang go off up the tower. (yang still loses her arm, cinder cuts it off instead)

the reason i changed it up like this? ruby stumbles on blake being stabbed and activates her eyes. the blast is so big it still takes out the wyvern and cinder. unfortunately it knocks ruby out but similarly to canon, blake leaves a copy of them and runs. adam flees when he realizes he has nothing else to do there (he does still promise to destroy everything blake loves starting with ruby but big blinding flash of light means he didnt get to)

qrow shows up and helps weiss bring pyrrha and yang (who are both injured and unconscious) down from the tower

sun sits by yang's bed until she wakes up and then tells her that blake left -- but he's going after her and asks her to tell ruby

pyrrha stays at the rose-xiao long house while recovering, weiss is taken away by jacques, blake runs, ruby leaves with jnr on their big journey and just. hopes she'll see everyone again

also when they get to the battle of haven, blake very quietly says "ruby?" and yang has to snap ruby out of her reverie. they fight alongside one another and when all is said and done she stretches her arms out to blake for a hug while she sits on the floor and blake rushes to her

(yang brought pyrrha along so jnpr has a big reunion and then both teams sink into a big group hug)

ruby tells blake all about her adventures with jnr and blake tells her about taking back the white fang (and about adam)

theres even more feeling behind ruby blasting the apathy when theyre about to get blake (and she gets a little embarassed when she's talking with maria and remembers that silver eyes are fuelled by love bc she activated them to save blake twice now)

adam v ladybug - ruby races through the woods and just comes over the cliff in rose petal form and slams crescent rose into his face

blake tells ruby how adam's semblance is similar to yang's but how he's super fast and ruby is just like "i can guarantee im faster" (canonically ruby's semblance is at least one part teleportation)

basically she uses a move like qrow did with tyrian and catch adam's sword in crescent rose. she then smashes her head into his face and he stumbles back and then blake jumps back up and kicks him in the back and he stumbles over the broken piece of gambol shroud and yeah they stab him.

they get back to find the leviathan and then it plays out basically how it did in the finale (but yknow with ruby and blake sitting together and yang gives ruby The Look™)

blake is freaking out bc she has no way to help and now the leviathan is staring ruby down

most of ruby's memories focus in on blake as something to activate her eyes and some of the bad memories is adam standing over blake at the fall and him throwing her off the side of the bridge

when ruby gets back into the airship blake is so relieved she kisses her and ruby is just like "aaaaAAAAAAAAAAA"

also ruby helps blake figure out what she wants to do to fix gambol shroud and plans it out with her so that when they get to a weaponsmith, all the plans are there

blake kisses ruby again after her haircut and ruby cant stop running her hands through it

#rwby ladybug #au #ladybug partners au #.cj #anonymous #this got. very long.#rwby global warming

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