#love that OP made this connection and yet will probably feel no indignation over it never being pointed out in the show

[trashogram]

I didn’t even catch this one!

Oh Stolas you’re just… such a terrible character.

[givemethatgold]

Fix’er Upper - Part Twelve

Pairing: Frankie Morales x F!Reader Warnings: Mentions of sex, swearing, mentions of drug use, fluff, smidge of angst? Length: 1.7k Notes: Managed to whip up this bad boy during a quiet moment today and should probably make y’all wait for it but I don’t really do posting schedules (as you’ve noticed) so enjoy. Not beta’d, not proof read, I’ll die on this messy hill.

Series Masterlist

Surprisingly, life didn't change too much after that night. Frankie continued to run his acreage and oversee the making of this year's cider. With some encouragement and support from you, he was starting to expand the business and already had a few pubs in the closest city clamouring to have his product on tap.

Meanwhile, the improvements on the house were nearing an end, for the indoors list anyways. The first thing Frankie had helped you do was to install your new soaker tub, immediately followed by christening it by making soft, slow love to you inside of it.

There hadn't even been any water, your impatience to be close to each other wouldn't allow for that. You had just stripped out of your coveralls, convenient work-wear for people who fucked like rabbits you had to admit, and sat in his lap with your arms and legs wrapped around him. His hands guiding your hips in a slow rocking motion, breathing each other's air as your open mouths hovered in a not-quite kiss, only breaking eye contact when you threw your head back as you came.

Autumn passed quickly and Winter had gripped Vermont, cloaking the countryside in a heavy blanket of white. Christmas was a cozy affair, you and Frankie had been asked to join Jacquie and Mark in their family's merriment. It had stirred something inside of you, watching a functional family laugh, sing, argue, eat, and love with such abandon. 

It was everything you'd dreamt, initially, for your future with Brad. Now? Now you were starting to picture that future with Frankie's face as the patriarch, you just haven't built up the nerve to broach the subject yet. 

You'd started working at the bakery, enjoying the early mornings surrounded by rising dough and sculling back coffees with the adorable older ladies who ran the place. You'd also begun doing the books for Morales Acres and Catfish Brewery. Frankie was a veritable genius but he claimed he had no patience for keeping receipts and tracking numbers.

You had a sneaking suspicion he was playing dumb in an effort to give you more time together but you really didn't mind. Your break-of-dawn mornings at the bakery had you tired, but after a full day of renovating or bookkeeping, you were downright exhausted and ready for bed by eight pm. This, mixed with Frankie monitoring the brewing, bottling, and distribution of his cider and networking at bars and pubs throughout the state meant the two of you rarely saw each other.

All of your hard work in your own house had made you a popular friend to call when someone needed decorating advice, or a helping hand once they realized they couldn't tile their kitchen backsplash solo. You never charged for your time, although payment had initially been offered until work had got around that you preferred a good meal and conversation over money. I mean, sure, you could use the cash but it just didn't seem right. And you loved helping people and making deeper connections with the town you now truly felt you belonged in.

Tuesday evenings had become an unofficial date night for the two of you. The bakery was closed on Wednesdays and bar owners tended to be less interested in business halfway through the week, something to do with the rush of the previous weekend having worn off and the worry of setting up for another one starting to grow.

This meant you could stay up late, enjoy a proper homemade dinner, maybe even watch a movie or share a bottle of wine while soaking in your big ass tub. It usually ended as a sleepover, your house being the preferred location; Frankie's loft was perfectly fine but it did lack a certain homey appeal.

This pattern, this life, that you'd created for yourself was making you happier than you'd ever been in your entire life. You weren't one hundred percent content, not yet anyway, but the path to getting there was on a direct trajectory. You still wanted to finish your college degree, maybe switch it over to horticulture. Building a greenhouse and selling flowers was still a pipe dream but something your heart truly longed for, something that Frankie was constantly encouraging you to do.

"Look, hun," he had called out to you a few weeks ago while supposedly researching the new line of bottles. "There's an auction next county over and they have all this confiscated stuff from a grow op that got busted!"

"What?" You'd made a face and laughed at the absurdity of it all. "What on earth would you use from a pot farm?"

He just gave you a salacious wink as an answer.

Frankie had been open about his past drug abuse and while some recovering addicts may want all mention of it banned from a conversation, Frankie found levity in treating the topic like any other person would.

It had taken you a couple of hours to realize why he'd brought up the auction. It had hit you with a jolt, knowing that he’d remembered your rambling from on top of the Ferris wheel. You didn't realize he'd been listening when you'd told him about your idea of taking over the flower stand at the market once the current couple retired.

Your heart had swelled and there was a concerted effort to prevent the sudden onset of tears from running down your face. God, you loved this man, maybe one of these days you should tell him...

This particular routine was working well for the two of you. It gave each of you your own space to relax, destress, enjoy the shitty tv shows you were too embarrassed to watch in front of another living person. It also forced the two of you to take your relationship slowly, communication being a constant learning curve. You were both really good and telling each other when you needed time alone, when you were feeling stressed or sad. You each had learned the tells for when the other was angry or just hungry, if it was hormones or if there was something that was actually pissing you off.

The thing you each seemed to struggle with was expressing the softer side of the relationship. Neither of you appeared to have the Words of Affirmation love language skill, yet you both craved to hear it. You showed how much you cared for Frankie with your acts of service; helping him with the boring side of the business, baking, deep cleaning the loft, even scrubbing out the massive fermenter in the Catfish Cider warehouse.

Frankie, on the other hand, showed his love through physical touch. At first, you had assumed it was a staking-his-claim kind of thing but then you noticed how he'd do it all the time. A hand on your lower back while walking, caressing your hand with his thumb when driving in the truck, carding his fingers through your hair while you watched tv.

This week's date night found you at his place, relaxing in the loft after a busy workday. You were making dinner while he 'helped' by sneaking bites of the prepped ingredients, arm slung around you with a hand in your back pocket.

"What're you looking for?" He asked, taking advantage of your distracted searching through his cupboards to sneak a few more pinches of grated cheese.

"A can opener!" You replied, exasperation raising your voice an octave. "I could have sworn I saw a white one around here somewhere..."

“No, pretty sure that one's yours. I don't think I have one?"

"Frankie," you deadpanned "how did you survive as a bachelor without canned food?"

"I ate a lot of take-out?" He looked indignant at your laughter, "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Can you stop judging me long enough to eat some burritos?"

Smoothing his playful scowl with a kiss, you sat down at the counter and enjoyed your first meal together of the week.

An idea was formulating in the back of your mind, though, and you barely tasted anything. As the evening progressed, the idea grew and you were liking it more and more. The final straw was you not having a toothbrush in his bathroom anymore, having forgotten that it had fallen off the counter and into the trashcan the last time you'd spent the night.

Using his, with a strange mixture of distaste and nonchalance, before making your way over to the bed, you began to plan how the conversation could go:

Hey Frankie, so you know how I have a big house all to myself? Yeah... And it had everything we need in it? Yeah... And there's more than enough room for two adults to store all of their things? Yeah... And I wouldn't have to use your toothbrush ever again? Yea- wait what? I think you should move in with me.

It wasn't very romantic but it was the most likely, considering your dynamic. Just as you were crawling into bed and snuggling under the arm he'd raised to allow you to get closer, his cell phone rang.

"Hello? - This is he. - Yeah, biological. - Oh god, when?"

The immediate change in his tone from questioning to horrified caught your attention, sitting up to face him you grabbed his free hand, silently letting him know you were there for support.

His eyes were out of focus and a panicked expression was slowly morphing his face as the conversation went on, but he gave your hand a squeeze back in acknowledgement.

"Yes, in Vermont. Do you have my address? - Okay, good, good...okay - When? - I'll have something ready. Umm... does she... does she remember me? - Oh. Okay, thank you."

Slowly lowering the phone from his ear, Frankie sat staring into nothingness for what felt like hours. His side of the conversation and the way he was reacting had you rattled. You could guess as to what was happening but weren't sure if now was the right time to pry.

"Babe? Is, is everything okay?"

Silence.

Gripping his hand tighter and rubbing his back you sat with him for a few more minutes before trying again. You didn’t want to push him but your heart was constricting in your chest from nervousness and concern for him.

"Can I get you anything? What do you need?"

His hand was now completely dead in yours; eventually, he turned his head towards you, eyes never fully focusing, and shook his head.

"I- she- fuck... I think you should go.”

Part Thirteen

[gildedmuse]

I was totally going to post about what makes Raizo awesome, answer a question and fill a request but then my phone got destroyed. While I spend the next day or so fixing that. Here. Enjoy this....

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Poor guys, their dreams were crushed...And it was a simple dream. They just wanted mystical shadow assassins to be real. ...And now I'm imagining a crossover between One Piece and Ninja Turtles.

@gildedmuse replied:

Which one does Luffy inevitably ask to join his crew? Cause I feel like the easy answer: Michelangelo. But actually I think it would be Master Splinter.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I can see Luffy and Law fighting to get all five on their crew, and being forced to settle on shared custody. 😂

@gildedmuse replied:

I asked my brother and his expert opinion was, "I don’t know, you're probably right. But Donatello and Franky be bros."

Also, we agreed that Raphael is just an angry Zoro. Which I was like, "You don't think Luffy would ask Law to join his crew?" 

His reply, "Well, he hasn't asked yet. Probably jealous of all that sweet time Law got with Zoro on the way to Wano." 

I HAVE TRAINED THIS BOY SO WELL PEOPLE

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Clearly! 😂 I think Donny would get along well with Law, too, as would Leo, while Raph and Mikey would prefer Luffy if only because he gets into the craziest adventures.

And Master Splinter would just want to listen to his shows.

@gildedmuse replied:

Leo: We need a plan. 

Luffy: Good point, Lion Turtle! 

Law: THAT IS LITERALLY WHAT I HAVE BEEN SAYING THE ENTIRE FUCKING TIME!? 

Luffy: Huh. I guess never heard you before because you're not a giant turtle ninja guy.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Oh my god, that's exactly what would happen! 🤣 And Zoro teaming up with Raph to pick on Sanji, while Donny joins up with Usopp and Franky to build some crazy stuff while Mikey rolls around the deck with Chopper like a dork.

@gildedmuse replied: 

Raphael's and Zoro's Sole Interaction: 

Raphael: *Nods to Zoro* Nice swords. 

Zoro: *Nod returned* Nice Sais. 

Small But Morally In The Right Group Of Fans: Oh, well, I would ship the FUCK out of these two.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

That sounds about right!

Poor Master Splinter, I think he'd hide on the Polar Tang for some peace and quiet...

@gildedmuse replied:

Leo suggests all the most Law like shit only Luffy actually acknowledges him and takes it into consideration because he’s a goddamn ninja turtle. Law spends the entire time just over Leo's shoulder in various states of sullenness, outrage and indignation. This is exactly the advice he gave yesterday and Strawhat-ya straight up ignored.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I figure he'd just take advantage of it and work with Leo to get things back on track after a while, still muttering under his breath about how Luffy never listens to him.

@gildedmuse replied: 

For some reason all I see now is Law being like, "Alright, I'm agreeing to leave Leo here because God knows someone should reign in the Strawhat. But goddamnit, Raphael comes with me. You only get one!" 4

Luffy: Okay if we also keep the rat monster! 

Nami: No, Luffy, that doesn't make sense. There are 4 turtles and 2 of you! 

Luffy: Oh, yeah, thank God we have this navigator-

Bepo: That is not what navigation is! 

Luffy: What do you mean we only get one?

Law: -pointing between Zoro and Raphael- You. Only. Get. One.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I can definitely see Luffy just assuming everything Nami does as a 'navigator' thing. And Law trying to barter for Donny so he doesn't get stuck with Mikey. 😂

Oh my gosh, YES. 🤣

@gildedmuse replied:

You know Zoro tries to just stare down his captain as Luffy looks between the two like he isn't secretly nervous. Like... He believes in Luffy and their connection but also.... It's a goddamn ninja that's also a turtle and has goddamn awesome sai. So... You know, could go either way. He understands. It's a fucking ninja turtle.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

I would definitely be torn! And there's Sanji, egging Luffy on to keep the turtle. 😂

@gildedmuse replied:

Sanji: come on he's exactly like Zoro only useful! 

Zoro: Oi! 

Sanji: What? At least if we're stuck out at sea we can make turtle soup out of him. 

Chopper: Using food to guide Luffy's logic isn't fair! (Turtle soup does sound yummy though)

And Zoro just standing there like come on, Chopper, you too?

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Mikey asking to go on the Tang because he doesn't want to be made into soup, while Raph grabs him by the mask like, I'm not getting stuck with you!

@gildedmuse replied:

I love that both Raph and Zoro are like well, you know what? I've accepted my date of being forced to go with Law. That is some good sidekick vision. They know who the fucking protagonist is!

Actually, phone, I meant fate but fuck it. I'm sticking with date.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Raph hates it, but he's a natural second-in-command. And he also doesn't want to be stuck with Leo. 😂

There are no accidents.

@gildedmuse replied: 

Raphael: Well, I'm choosing Law. 

Zoro: -At the same time- We'd obviously both like to stay with our actual Captains so- 

Zoro:... 

Zoro: Wait did you just pick Law? 

Zoro: -Eyeing Leo- 

Zoro: Yeah... I'm gonna go ahead and go with Law as well then.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Luffy goes all anaconda on them, like NO! Law only gets one! Zoro's mine!

@gildedmuse replied:

On the sidelines Nami, Chopper and Usopp who do not want to be left without a super strong swordsman are just like WHAT!? 

Zoro can't explain. There's just something about some other dude with blades that he would definitely fight To The Death that he inherently trusts.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Sanji is trying to convince him to let Zoro go while Leo just tries to massage away a headache, and Donny raises a hand, like "I...also want to go with Law now."

Though I could also see Zoro taking Leo as a sparring partner.

And Usopp bartering for Donny, while Brooke quietly hides Master Splinter behind him.

@gildedmuse replied:

But that would be like Zoro taking Law as a sparing partner. Like I see it... I get where you're coming from. But there is sparing partners vs people you want to be on a crew with. Said with all the love in her heart. (Also, let's face it, it's Zoro. He can argue about it but whoever Luffy says they're taking... Those are now the people he would die for.)

@dragonprincess18 replied:

True...Zoro would do pretty much anything for Luffy. Except be nice to Sanji. There are lines.

@gildedmuse replied:

Also, for the record, Bepo considers them all minks and try to treat them as such and the turtles just like, "Well, no bro." And Bepo continuously shocked by this. Continuously.

I mean there are lines than there are fucking impassable mountains forever separating two spots.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Yeah, Bepo would be so confused. 

Exactly, there are some things that can't be done.

@gildedmuse replied:

Luffy: Zoro, I need you to die for this crew

Zoro: I have already accepted this sacrifice and moved to make it so. Just as long as you become pirate king and my crew lives.

Luffy: Zoro, legitimately the only way the crew will survive is if you are nice to Sanji for like an hour... At most.

Zoro: Well, Captain, you and the crew can go fuck yourselves cuz that ain't happening.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Yup. That's a canon conversation they've had in their minds. No need to voice it, Luffy knows. It's hard enough when Zoro has to work with Sanji for two straight minutes!

In comparison, Leo and Raph are best friends!

@gildedmuse replied:

For the record, if you were writing some weird NT/OP fanfic that was also ZoLaw friendly that is right there how you would get Zoro on the Polar Tang. 

Law: Actually, we'd have to take the turtle bladesman. Obviously yours is too invested in staying here with you... And black leg-ya who will also be on this ship. 

Zoro: FUCK IT, HAVE THE TURTLE I’M GOING WITH NOTSA... WITH LAW.

Law: -I got your swordman. Whatcha gonna do Strawhat? But nonverbal cuz Law-

I mean yeah because Raphael clearly a second. I know this because I have an unfortunate love of seconds. Like just love a main character or at least the fucking leader goddamnit. But still... You always love your captain, even if he has a stick up his ass.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Luffy pouting, but letting Zoro go... Because he plans on never letting Law leave, either. 😝 Neighbors!

 It's an unfortunate truth. Especially when you're the second-oldest.

@gildedmuse replied:

Oh well you've broken me. That's too cute. Just Luffy pouting like fine... But NAMI NEVER LET THAT SHIP OUT OF YOUR SIGHT! 

Zoro just like "I'm an adult and also.... Two years."

Luffy: I will never. Let you. Leave me. 

Zoro: I am in no way trying to. 

Luffy: -Dark eyes of Determination- Never.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

And Law standing there like, I'm never getting away from this, this is my life now, what did I do to deserve this? While the turtles are mostly relieved they're all staying together.

@gildedmuse replied:

Law: -Despair- 

Bepo: There there captain. At least you got a Swordsman now. 

Law: I AM A SWORDSMAN! Leo-ya is a swordsman! Why does no one think of us!? 

Penguin: Well no one actually forgot about Leo, we just accepted him as staying with the Strawhats so.... 

Meanwhile, Across The Ship

Zoro: Alright, so Kid and Drake are out. Why not the Bonney Pirates? 

Nami: Again,not physically here. 

Chopper: AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO ABANDONED US!?

Law: -DESPAIR-

The only argument regarding Law being all, "You know what? Fine take him back" is regarding if it's Zoro's destructiveness or Luffy's stubbornness that drives him to the edge.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Zoro: It's me or the shitty cook. 

Sanji: I'm not going anywhere, mosshead! 

Zoro: See? 

Chopper and Usopp: 😭

Or both. Both is possible. And Luffy will still follow him everywhere because "We're allies, Torao! That means we're friends, and friends don't run from friends!" "THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS!"

@gildedmuse replied:

Law: GET OUT! 

Nami: Now would you say it was Zoro or Luffy's behavior that finally broke you? 

Law: Excuse me? 

Nami: Look, there is actual money on the line here, Law, so I will not hesitate to kill you.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Law: ...Luffy. 

Nami: I knew it! Pay up! 

Usopp: Aw man, I swore it'd be Zoro's sense of direction...

@gildedmuse replied: 

 "JUST BECAUSE WE'RE ALLIES DOESN'T MAKE US FRIENDLY, STRAWHAT-YA! YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE YOUR SWORDSMAN BACK BECAUSE YOU MISS HIM! 

Luffy: I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OF THAT I’M GONNA JUST KEEP ON ASSUMING YOU KNOW THE RIGHT WAY BECAUSE WE BESTIES! 

Law: I DO NOT LIKE YOU! 

Luffy: LOVE YOU TOO!

Bepo is just like "Usopp is not wrong it's pretty bad you guys " No one pays him any attention. Maybe if he was a fucking ninja turtle....

When a Kung Fu polar bear just isn't enough

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Law is a grumpy panda teddy, and Luffy knows it. There's no denying it now. They've all seen it. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if he and Mikey both read Sora: Warrior of the sea.

Poor Bepo, he's still cute enough for me! *hugs Bepo*

@gildedmuse replied:

I mean you know Raphael reads that shit but doesn't openly tell anyone right? Because I feel that is definitely true.

@dragonprincess18 replied:

Raphael has a reputation to uphold. And a baby brother to annoy. 😂

[real-jaune-isms]

Volume 7 Chapter 4 Review

First of all, a really nice episode with many good moments and scenes. However... it overall left me feeling kind of down. Like some of the air had been let out of my sails. It put some more back in, but it took a lot. Let me explain...

The whole thing starts positive enough, if a little foreboding. The sun is setting quite beautifully, though it makes you wonder what time the mission started and how long RWBY and the Ace Ops were down there. A convoy of armored trucks drive up the path to the SDC Mine’s entrance, flanked by the looming shadow of Amity Coliseum being brought to its new temporary home until the proper launch. Some Faunus seem to be watching from a distance, and by the look of a pin one is wearing these are two of the Happy Huntresses. Wonder what they’re doing here?...

As the trucks stop, our adult professional huntsmen and huntresses strut confidently out of the mine entrance, though some are trying a little harder to look serious than others. Very cute Marrow, we can definitely tell you’re the rookie of the group. But we don’t have time to dwell on that, because the real heroes are out of the cave too, and most of them are trying to just behave and stand at attention. Not Ruby, Nora, and Jaune though. They’re going gaga over the Ace Ops. Jaune is super impressed with the superior leadership and strategizing of Clover, and how the whole team’s synergy is so flawless it barely requires communication, to which Clover responds with some wisdom about knowing and covering for one another’s liabilities. This of course leads to some nice banter within the Ace Ops at Marrow’s expense, the poor pup. Meanwhile Nora wants to make fellow hammer user and bruiser Elm her new best friend, complete with Street Fighter text graphic for their pairing.

Thunder Thighs!

And Ruby is just wowed that Harriet is so quick and reliable to come in clutch and have her team’s back so well, something she aspired to do too. But she apparently makes a mistake in calling the Ace Ops “friends”. Harriet keeps this purely professional. It’s a matter of trust and teamwork, but they’re still just coworkers. Clearly a difference in teaching style between Beacon and Atlas, because I definitely got the feeling from Volumes 1-3 that Ozpin wanted everyone to form meaningful bonds in order for their teamwork to be at its best. But this really shakes our girls. They just saw the most impressive huntsman work they’ve ever seen, and they’re being told that was from people who aren’t friends? Makes them feel like they’re doing things the wrong way, or worse that they won’t be able to stay as close if they want to get serious about their work. And it’s especially hard to hear now. Blake and Yang just killed a man the other day, they all stole Atlas property, Weiss put her faith in her team to stay by her side in order to go back to Atlas when she had just escaped from there a few volumes ago. They risked everything to find each other again and stay together... and that’s apparently a naïve way to look at being a Huntress? I don’t know about the rest of you, but I felt like that stuck with them for the rest of the episode and I really hope they all have a talk about it soon. This is a crisis of confidence like nothing they’ve encountered, and I love it.

While the Ops go check in with Ironwood, Ruby tries to drum up enthusiasm for a team activity such as exploration of the city, probably as a direct response to Harriet’s claim they won’t stay friends if they want to be Huntresses. She wants to strengthen their bonds through quality team time. A noble aspiration, if only they weren’t tired after a busy day of the mission, and they seem to still be worn out by the Argus escape stuff and sick of city stuff after Argus and Mantle. A shame, I’m sure Atlas has plenty of wonderful sights to see. But they need time to rest and recuperate. Sorry Ruby... But there’s no time to dwell on that either, because Ironwood wants to talk with Jaune, Ruby, and Qrow. They barely catch the end of his conversation with Clover, something to the effect of keeping a low profile in Mantle while doing recon on a recent problem... and that Marrow can’t come because low profile isn’t his strong suit. That’s when they get the worst news yet. New Best Boy Forest has been murdered, the third killing of someone speaking out against Ironwood in a week. This revelation of course devastates our young heroes. Qrow points out the obvious, the connecting thread of all the dead being anti-Ironwood makes a pretty damning case against him. The General’s not egotistical enough to prioritize the damage that does to his reputation, instead worrying it’ll worsen civil unrest. He can tell he and the rest of Atlas are being framed for such brutal blows to the truth seeking lower class, and the frame fits the current painting rather nicely. Jaune claps back that the unrest got so bad to begin with because of Ironwood’s Dust embargo so he has no one but himself to blame. Savage. But even Ironwood admits he’s right, that the issues of Mantle are going unanswered while he has to deal with the grand designs. So that’s where RWBY and JNR come in, good people to help make a difference in Mantle. How thoughtful.

But all noble thoughts go out the window as a new ship enters the area, one that practically screams wealth and privilege. Papa Schnee has come to trade verbal jabs~ And he starts firing off with indignant blustering the moment the doors open, saying the repossession of his old mine is an outrage the Council will not stand for. But Jimmy thought of that already, and he’s already told them he was commandeering this private property, AND since this is a military operation of top priority and confidentiality he doesn’t need Council approval. The very idea baffles Jacques, and James advises him to learn a thing or two about how the Council works before he has to watch the seat on it he wants so dearly slip through his fingers. Jacques only got to land here because the General let him, and he won’t be doing so again. Any blathering about the disrespect Ironwood is showing him goes out the window as he notices what’s been keeping us all tense this entire time; Weiss is just a few feet away. Papa Schnee of course gets fired up all over again that Weiss is working with Ironwood now, as if she was nothing more than another piece of property Jacques was swindled out of and had no agency of her own where she chose to go. Weiss stands up for herself at least that much, saying it was her own decision to come to Atlas and work with the General, the same way she decided to get the fuck out when he put her under house arrest, lest he forget that cruel move. He gets quite ruffled that she would talk back to him about his own recollection of his decisions, that he has not been shown the respect he should as her father. But she makes it clear he’s getting exactly how much respect he deserves, if not more than his kind is worth.

Jacques looks about ready to wind up for a swing at her and tries to let her know as much, but he forgot the man running the military and police is standing right behind him and already not his biggest fan. So he does something just as bad if not even worse. He guilt trips and gaslights her by saying that Mama Schnee’s condition has gotten even worse BECAUSE Weiss left, that it’s all her fault her mother has been made to suffer like this. I truly wish he could be on the receiving end of a sniper bullet or several blades and punches. But no, he cracks her confident defiance and upsets her, mission accomplished, and he gives an infuriating little villainous smirk. Feeling a little better about himself because he got to emotionally manipulate his daughter, Jacques claims Ironwood’s recent actions will be the noose that hangs the dear General. More importantly though, Weiss is lifted from her anguish and self-pity by Blake taking her hand in a show of support. She knows exactly what is happening here, because she was in Weiss’ shoes for years with Adam. She can and will help her friend get out of this. The whole team will, they’re all standing with her and for her. 

And maybe with a little help from her friends, Weiss’ abuser can go the way of Blake’s. Publicly humiliated and reduced to a petty shell of their former self concerned only with revenge, before dying to those they sough to control. Yeah I still have some thoughts about Adam and how glad I am he died how he did...

Regardless of our hatred for the thankfully deceased, when Jacques gets done indirectly threatening James he turns back to see Weiss feeling a little better and flanked by her team. So he tries to insult them and make Weiss feel guilty that she left her life of luxury and influence for a few friends. Too bad she knows now they’re more of a family to her than he is, and she lets him know. He doesn’t like that very much, she’s got confidence and emotional support, she might actually try and get out from under his thumb. So he leaves with a grumble, and as soon as he’s gone Weiss lets out the breath she was holding and relaxes a bit. And hey, Winter shows up! Almost as if she didn’t want to be there while her Father was and waited until he had left to come any closer. Guess she’s afraid of his domineering influence too. In much better news, Penny lands in the middle of the scene quite suddenly and knocks our girls away comically. Seems she’s here to celebrate... something that has yet to happen. But we find out what that is quite soon.

Next thing we know everyone is center stage in the Amity Arena, and Ironwood is making a speech about how much RWBY and JNR have grown since the last time they were here. And that growth deserves recognition, so they are given an impromptu graduation ceremony and awarded their licenses as Official Huntresses and Huntsmen by Penny... because she’s the one with the Scroll hitting the check mark on each of them to finalize the process. It’s everything they ever wanted back in the first few Volumes... but he’s right. Everything has changed since the Vytal Festival, including what they all seem to want in life. They... think they’re still happy to have this, but it doesn’t feel like it means much of anything anymore. Still, it is a big moment and he reminds them that they will all be working together on equal footing to get the satellite launched and communication restored. And whatever happens with Salem will be faced all together. He can’t think of a much better way to end the speech so he leaves them to enjoy some cake. Nora is very enthusiastic about eating a lot of that cake. While everyone else gathers around to watch Penny cut the cake with her swords, Ruby sits on her own in the bleachers and watches. Nora gets a stack of about 5 pieces of cake much to Ren and Weiss’ amusement, Yang shows off her detaching arm trick to Penny which earns a laugh, then goes to take a burst of selfies with a humorously unprepared Blake. How adorable.

Less adorable and more meaningful is Ruby and Qrow having a talk about all the tough choices she’s had to make recently and how much things have been changing around her without giving her any time to stop and adjust. This is what it means to be a leader, and her secrecy about Salem and Jinn is apparently less egregious than what Ozpin did according to Qrow. While Oz never trusted anyone with the whole truth, Ruby is planning to once Ironwood proves himself trustworthy. That’s a point in the win column. Ruby feels like she hasn’t earned her Huntress title, that she doesn’t feel any different than she did at Beacon, any more skilled or special. That feeling apparently never goes away. Qrow assures his niece that her mom would be very proud of the woman she has become and the choices she has made. But that raises the question, was the mission Summer disappeared on another Oz secret? Apparently not, even Ozpin had no idea where she had gone or why. Summer kept a few secrets all her own I guess, I just hope we learn more about all that and about her herself soon. For now, Ruby wants to know if Summer would have done the same thing about Salem if she were in her daughter’s shoes, and the best answer he can give is she would press on. She was the best of the lot, if not a little bratty, which he claims he doesn’t mind from her or Ruby~

That sweet moment ends as the group is shown a mission board of jobs they can sign up for around the Kingdom, much to Ruby’s glee. She has many ideas about what she wants to do for her first official mission~ Marrow, Elm, and Vine show up to guide the young’uns through the process for their first time around, though Vine and Ren seem to miss the point of Marrow’s metaphor about fresh meat. Elm is just amused the kids are so gung-ho to get right into huntsman work. The first job sounds like promising enough volunteer work to get most hands in the air, but when it’s revealed to be escorting preschoolers along their walk to pre-K Jaune is the only one with his hand still up so he gets stuck with it, and unfortunately Marrow doesn’t know how to pronounce his name... Meanwhile the others are all too eager to sign up when Elm tells them about a mission to take down a massive Sabyr loose in the Mantle sewers. They all have a good laugh that Jaune missed his chance to be a part of that since he said yes to the preschool escort. But hey, helping out the kids is sure to get the attention of some

Real.

Thirsty.

Moms.

But we can’t end on a positive note, so we cut to Jacques drinking in his study when Whitley makes his return, hooray hooray. He reports that a guest has let himself in and wants to speak with the patriarch... and oh what a delightful surprise! It’s Watts, and whatever words will be exchanged between them are not for the young lad to hear. Those words being that dear Arthur was thought by the masses to be dead, and that’s just how he likes it. So that explains why he’s not a suspect in the Black Queen virus stuff in Volume 3. But now he has a mutually beneficial proposition to deal with Jacques’ Ironwood problem~ How foreboding.

Sadly, or not depending how you view it, that’s all she wrote.

[paulie-lombardos-boy-toy]

And yet Viv and her stand won’t see anything wrong with what he said. Damn I really hope D.H.O.R.K.S actually causes severe damage/consequences even more now

I didn’t even catch this one!

Oh Stolas you’re just… such a terrible character.