#maiden blake au

[howlingday]

He keeps getting good another chaptrr

1ST / 2ND / 3RD / 4TH / PREV

"Honestly, can't you do anything right?!"

"I'm trying, okay?" Ruby whimpered after yet another of Weiss' 'honest criticisms' as she called them. Really, they were just Weiss yelling for about a half an hour. And it ended the same way, too.

"Well stop trying and start doing!" Weiss then stomped away, leaving Ruby alone in the dorm, yet again.

This wasn't what Ruby thought Beacon was going to be like at all. She thought she would be going on adventures, making friends, and having fun while learning how to become a huntress. But all she was learning right now was how out of her depth she truly was.

If only Yang was here, but it seems she had something better to do with Blake today. Just like yesterday. And the day before. And the day before that.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Ruby opened it to find Jaune standing there with sad eyes. "Is... everything okay, Ruby?"

"Yeah, just... me and Weiss are still trying to figure things out." Ruby said, clearly lying to cover for her partner.

"Oh, okay." Jaune said. "Do you wanna talk about it?"

"Not really." Ruby replied.

"Do you wanna... hang out with my team until your team gets back?"

"Yeah." Ruby perked up, making Jaune's tail wag. "Yeah, I'd like that."

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

"Oh, hello, Pyrrha~!" Weiss called sweetly, walking up to the more famous student. "How are you this afternoon?"

"I'm fine, Weiss." Pyrrha replied. "I'm just out grabbing medicine for Jaune while he's studying."

"At least your partner studies." Weiss said with a grumble. "My supposed 'leader' would prefer to play video games instead of putting in the effort to learn."

"I... see..."

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to vent." Weiss apologized. "But she can just be... so... frustrating!"

"Well, have you considered how she might be feeling?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she's certainly younger than us, so maybe she's just not sure what direction she should go. You remember being her age, don't you?"

"I do, but she never had it as difficult as I did!" Weiss huffed. "She never had impossible expectations to live up to like I did."

"Really? What her home life like before coming to Becaon?"

"She probably goofed off at her old school, too."

"Probably?" Pyrrha quirked her brow. "Do you know what school she went to?"

"Well... No." Weiss admitted.

"Do you know why she built her weapon the way she did? Or who taught her before she applied to her old school." Weiss was quiet. "Weiss... Aside from her name, what do you know about Ruby?"

Weiss had no answer. She never considered Ruby to really be her partner. Until now, she saw Ruby as just some kid who lucked her way into being her partner, as if it were some cruel twist of fate as punishment for some crime she didn't commit. This was the first time she considered that maybe, just maybe, Ruby was just as unhappy with Weiss as her partner as she was with her.

"I... should probably ask her." Weiss then said.

"I think that would be a good idea."

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

"Hello, again~!" Pyrrha chimed as she opened the door to her dorm. "Oh, hello, Ruby."

"Hi, Pyrrha~!" Ruby smiled, sitting on the floor across from Jaune, books out and open between them. "Jaune and I are just studying."

"Oh, really?" Pyrrha stepped aside to reveal the icy glare of Ruby's partner standing behind her.

"Weiss?!"

"Ruby," Weiss took a deep breath before speaking further, "would you like to study with me?"

"Um..." Ruby scratched her head. "I'm kinda already studying with Jaune."

"Oh..." Weiss wanted to say more, but she thought better than to start anything in someone else's dorm. And what Pyrrha said. "Then perhaps I could... study with you, too."

At this, Ruby looked to Jaune, who smiled, and she gave a smile in return. "Yeah, we can do that, too!"

[bridgyrose]

Weiss took a few deep breaths as she leaned against a tree, watching as the last of the ice had started to melt. Everything felt similar to when she accidentally set fire to the mansion. Her body felt weak after that much energy had been expended, though instead of feeling hot from the heat, she felt as cold as if she’d stood outside in Mantle without a jacket. But what worried her the most was if someone other than Ruby had seen her. One person knowing what she could do was easy to work around, buying off someone to be quiet was something her family excelled at, but if anyone else had seen… if Ozpin had seen… she couldnt lie about it being her semblance. Any huntsman worth their salt would know that this wasnt natural. 

She finally caught her breath and sheathed her rapier. “Alright Ruby, we should head out again.” 

“Are you sure you dont want to talk about what happened?” Ruby asked. “I mean, that was cool and-” 

“Drop it.” Weiss pulled out her scroll and started to pull up the compass app she had installed. “And even if I wanted to talk about it, what am I supposed to say? I just thought about everything freezing to save you and then it happened?” 

“That… sounds reasonable.” 

“It sounds crazy!” 

“Not that crazy. I mean, I stopped a dust robbery and nearly was killed by someone who did something similar to you with fire.” 

Weiss snapped her scroll shut. “What do you mean someone else has done something similar?” 

Ruby shrugged. “I dont know how to describe it, but it was as if they willed fire to work for them. It still sounds like it could just be a semblance, but watching you doing the same thing with ice looked familiar.” 

“Still, I’d rather keep this a secret from others. Once we’re out of here, I’ll get you whatever you want just as long as you keep quiet.” 

“Dont worry, my lips are sealed.” 

Weiss shook her head as she watched Ruby “zip” her lips with her fingers and pinched the bridge of her nose. She still wasnt sure if she could trust Ruby to keep this quiet, but that was an issue for later. Right now, she still had to find her way towards the relics that Ozpin wanted them to pick up. And while she still didnt know where they were, she at least knew which way to go.

She moved forward through the forest, making sure to move quickly but quietly in order to avoid any more confrontations with the grimm. The nevermore that kept flying above them was starting to make her nervous, a grimm that size was not going to be easy to take down and fighting it was sure to bring other grimm out towards her. And if there was something as big as that living in the forest, she didnt want to find out what else might be out there. 

And it wasnt long before Weiss and Ruby reached the edge of the treeline, her heart stopping when she could finally see the ruins she and Ruby were meant to reach… and then the nevermore soaring just above. Getting to the ruins would need a distraction, and her powers would be ideal for something like this. But with such an open space…

“I think we can go now,” Ruby said as she moved down the treeline, keeping her eyes on the nevermore. “Looks like its turning, so if we hurry, we can get to the ruins without too much trouble.” 

“And how do you expect us to get out there?” Weiss asked. “If it comes back around-” 

“Then we take cover!” 

Weiss practically yelped as Ruby grabbed her wrist and started to pull her forward in a sprint. Not long after, she felt Ruby embrace her as the world around her started to shift and change. For a brief moment, she couldnt feel her own body, just the wind around her as if she was scattered about. And just as quickly as the sensation came, it quickly left as her head spun. She fell back into the wall of the ruins, only to feel Ruby put a hand over her mouth as the nevermore gave a loud *caw!* to lure them out with fear.

Once the nevermore was out of sight, Ruby pulled her hand away from Weiss’ mouth and sighed. “Looks like we should be fine.” 

“What… what did you do?” Weiss asked. 

“I used my semblance to get us out here quicker.” Ruby started to mess with the packets on her outfit to make sure everything was still in place. “Though, I have to admit, that was the first time I’ve used it to carry someone else. Usually I use it wth just me and Crescent Rose, not that I really know how it all works right now, I only managed to unlock it a few months ago-” 

Weiss started to ignore Ruby’s rambling and made her way over to the relic pieces, only a few left: two white rooks, a white knight, and a black rook. She pondered carefully over which one to take, only to be interrupted by someone yelling. 

“Rubes! You made it!” 

“Yang!” Ruby called out as she rushed over. “This wasnt too hard for you, was it?” 

Yang shook her head. “Of course not. Blake and I made it without too much difficulty. What about you guys?” 

“We ran into a little trouble but then Weiss-” 

“All I did was stop some grimm from coming after us with my semblance,” Weiss lied as she picked up the white knight piece. She pocketed it into her skirt and walked over to Ruby. “So, now that we have our… relic… where do we go now?” 

“Ozpin said we’d need to get back up the cliff,” Blake answered. “Though, I think we may have a bit of trouble.” 

Weiss was about to ask what Blake meant until she heard the nevermore overhead make a loud *caw* as it passed overhead. It was clear it had seen them. Getting to the cliffside was going to be troublesome without any sort of cover, which meant they couldnt avoid the grimm. 

She readied her rapier and then looked at Ruby, pausing when she saw the girl smile and her eyes practically gleam as she unfolded her scythe. “You have a plan, dont you?” 

Ruby nodded and started to rush out towards the grimm. “Just follow my lead!” 

“Wait, Ruby!” Weiss called out in vain as she watched her partner dart out to get the attention of the grimm. 

She took a breath and followed after Blake and Yang, using her own semblance to try to catch up as she watched the nevermore get ready to send out its feathers. She quickly weaved through, eyes widening as she watched Ruby get caught by a feather. She only had one shot to keep herself from being partnerless. Her eyes burned as she set out a chain of glyphs to block the rest of the incoming feathers, closing her eyes as the ice formed. 

She slowly opened her eyes and let out a sigh of relief when she saw the feathers stopped and Ruby safe. “You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” 

Ruby winced. “Yeah, but… I knew you’d have my back.” 

“That doesnt matter!” Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. “If we’re going to be partners, we have to work together. Which means not getting yourself killed!” 

Ruby nodded and picked herself back up and watched the nevermore. “Yang, Blake! Try to get the nevermore over to towers! I have an idea!” 

“Got it!” Yang called out. 

“And then what?” Blake asked. 

“Weiss and I will take care of the rest!” Ruby answered. She then turned to Weiss. “Think you can get it to sit still?”

“Of course I can,” Weiss said as she started to rush to the nevermore. She followed close behind Blake and Yang, watching them as they brought it over towards one of the ruined towers. She created another series of glyphs to freeze its wings in place and pulled back to Ruby as she watched Blake and Yang pull a ribbon through the towers to create a slingshot. 

It wasnt long before she watched Ruby launch herself at the bird and slice through its neck, and all she could do was stare in awe. Rose petals fell from the sky from Ruby using her semblance to launch herself, the grimm dissipated into smoke and ash as it fell to the ground. This was already starting to shape up as an interesting year to be a huntress. 

Prev

[heyahs]

team rwby as the four maidens

ruby as fall maiden

weiss as winter maiden

blake as spring maiden

yang as summer maiden

— ♡ —

the tale of the four maidens is obviously the story of how ozpin met them. could it be that when he looked at the rwby team at the beacon academy he remembered his old maiden friends? 👀

[spectralscathath]

Ruby... what have you done?

Antares AU! RWBY in the fashion of Alice: Madness Returns (the superior AiW adaptation) ♥️♠️♦️♣️

[chaoticevilspacewitch]

RWBY Fanfic Recommendation List

Fics that have really struck me, vaguely organized by ship and/or topic.

Bumbleby (Blake x Yang)

first off, basically anything by pugoata. She's the goddess-empress of the Bees. I'm gonna give particular props to Banshee, as it was the first longer fic and AU that I read, and it really opened up my mind to what fanfic could be.

You're a Mountain, Full of Glory - a ski/snowboard with amazing characterization and a closing scene that will live rent-free in my head forever, in a good way.

They Can't Steal the Love You're Born to Find - childhood soulmates repeatedly torn apart and reconnecting, with courtroom drama. One of the most angst-ridden Bee fics I've ever read.

Fucking In Love - pornstar AU that gets right to the sex and slow burns the romance. Hot as hell while also full of tenderness and pining.

Midnight Menagerie - exotic dancer, kinda-cyberpunk dystopia AU. Edges you forever with the sex, earns all the angst tags, and we are majorly trusting @kaelidascope when she promises an amazing happy ending.

Bite Me Like You Love Me - one of the hottest Bee smutfics I've ever read.

You and Me - Blake discovers she's pregnant the day Yang goes MIA on a mission and struggles through being a single mother teaching their child about her amazing other mom. Short, happy ending, amazingly sweet.

You and Me, and One Hot Summer - tropical beach Bees. It's fun, and hella spicy!

WhiteRose (Ruby x Weiss)

The Foxtrot - Ruby and Weiss repair their broken lives after the war. It's one of the most popular RWBY fics of all time for a reason.

Can You See My Strings?/Deja Vu - premium mentally ill Weiss escapes from child abuse angst, with a happy ending if you read the sequel.

But Your Voice Used to Be Mine - Weiss escapes abuse to join RBY's punk band whose smash hit she inspired.

Just One Cigarette - Ruby and Weiss have a little meetup roleplay and it's really good.

Faunus Weiss (generally major themes of struggling with internal and external racism)

Craving the Sky - Weiss has painfully concealed her faunus heritage while she tries to earn her father's love. The support of her team, and the love of Blake and Yang (BeesSchnees) help her soar on her own.

Black Swan Theory - faunus Weiss struggles to recover from child abuse and navigate a deeply racist society while building a relationship with Pyrrha (Schneekos).

Clipped Wings - secret faunus Weiss, dealing with racism and abuse from Jacques, this time slow burning towards Pollination.

Villainesses

Melting Glace - Cinder and Neo find love, and no redemption, in the trauma of failing to destroy Beacon. Will make you cheer for them to win by the end.

Rise from the Ashes - Cinder has a Vader moment and saves Ruby from Salem, and Ruby's pure heart helps her heal, and their adversarial relationship turn to affection. Peak RWBY enemies-to-lovers.

Odds & Ends

The Bermuda Triangle - great modern AU BeesSchnees that gets filthy hot at the end.

Midnight Rose - Summer rescues and adopts Cinder out of Atlas. Their relationship, and Cinder coming to love the Xiao Long-Rose family, is beautifully depicted. Still very much ongoing (no ships as of yet).

Fallen Maiden - Jaune dies protecting Pyrrha at Beacon, and the Fall Maiden power remains split. Will Pyrrha's bloody crusade of vengeance consume her? Or, 'Pyrrha goes full Magneto and fucks Cinder up'.

What's In A Name? - Winter and May grow up together, struggling to cope with their feelings for each other against the background of the Atlas aristocracy.

Red Sky at Night - This excellently-composed fic has a hacked Penny as the primary antagonist of the Beacon arc and builds it to Nuts & Dolts. It captures both Penny's horror at being controlled in her own body and RWBY's fear in fighting a seemingly unstoppable enemy, almost like Terminator vibes, and ultimately takes it to a very sweet relationship.

Linked In Life and Love - I'd be remiss if I didn't mention this one. I really, really love the first act, where Team RWBY sees Blake suffering terribly through a surprise heat cycle and decides that they will all "help" her with it. It's sweet and tender and feels legit for them. I'm not a huge fan of where all the series has gone since, but I would invite anyone to judge that for themselves.

Sparks in the Dark - an Emerald/Penny/Ruby trio that's really masterfully done, exploring all three characters in very novel ways, and also doing great things with Salem and Cinder.

War Machines - a Penny/Ruby role-swap that follows Penny's adventures on team BXPS with Blake, Yang, and Weiss. It's very thoughtful and a good read as science fiction for its exploration of Penny's artificial personhood.

(As I see this getting a decent amount of traffic, I'll just point out that, if it's convinced you [correctly] of my impeccable taste in fanfic, you might want to check out my own RWBY writings)

[unhetalia]

"A Love Without A Name"

Word Count: 3,408.

Rating: Mature

Summary: Alfred's freedom hinges on his ability to guess a magical creature's name. He doesn't take the task very seriously.

Notes: Written for @usukweek Day 1 - Fairy Tale AU. Because I was late to starting, this fic is current unedited - I'll post it on AO3 once I've cleaned it up.

***

“So… do you know what my name is, darling?” England asks, his expression is mild as if he were out on a midday stroll, as opposed to fucking his hips in and out of Alfred’s willing body.

In contrast, Alfred lies beneath him gasping out his pleasure. His nails are clawing at England’s back, desperately trying to pull him closer. His heaving gasps are England’s only answer.

England has asked him this same question every day for a hundred years; Alfred hasn’t bothered answering in fifty. 

***

There is a story about a beautiful maiden who made a deal with a Creature. Her first born child for all the riches in the world. The beautiful maiden had no plans to marry or have children and believed she was tricking the creature, but it wasn’t even two years later that she fell in love and became pregnant. Eventually, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

The story goes that when the creature came for her son, the woman was prepared. Cunning in her own way, and unwilling to let the creature get the upper hand again, she convinced the creature to make a bet. I bet you that I can guess your name, creature, she crowed.

The creature disagreed, and was so sure she would never know his name that he agreed that if she was able guess it, he would renege his claim on her son and let him stay with her.

What the creature hadn’t realised was that the woman had known his name all along, though at first she had pretended to guess a variety of incorrect names. Is it Frederick? Or John? Blake? Bud? Bowser?

Eventually, though, she said, I think I know your name, Creature and said his secret name, and the creature wailed and screamed but had no choice but to leave the woman and her baby alone.

And of course, the woman lived happily ever after, and her son grew up healthy and strong, and they never saw the creature again.

Or so the story goes.

***

Alfred is newly eighteen when England comes for him. He is walking home from work - a small school with only eight students where he teaches basic reading and arithmetic - when he notices a horse drawn carriage beside him. It’s odd, because he’s pretty sure that the carriage wasn’t there a second ago. I must be really tired, he thinks.

A man steps out of the carriage, and the first thing Alfred notices is that the man is exceptionally handsome, with messy light blonde hair, striking green eyes, and even more striking eyebrows.

The second thing he notices is that the man must also be exceptionally wealthy. He’s dressed in the way of aristocracy, wearing a dark suit and white gloves that would surely be stained in any other occupation than ‘sitting around and being rich’. 

Alfred instinctively smiles at him, even though his mother had always warned him about doing such a thing. The man smiles back and says, hello, Alfred.

Which -

“How do you know my name?” he asks. He is suddenly alert, because his mother has spent years warning him of many things, to the point that Alfred doesn’t quite remember what all the warnings were, only that strangers knowing his name must be one of them.

The man keeps smiling, and steps closer. Alfred tries to step back, but finds that he can’t.

“I know your name because you’re mine,” the man says.

And then Alfred’s world goes black.

***

Alfred is England’s because the stories are wrong, and the creature - call me England, creature gets a bit tiring, don’t you think? - and the fair maiden never made a deal for riches, and she never knew his real name.

Instead, the true story is still about a beautiful maiden, but this one gets pregnant out of wedlock. The father is a noble already engaged, who would never leave his comfortable life for a kitchen maid. The maiden was fine with this, and fine with raising her child on her own, because she had loved them as soon as she knew they existed.

Everything was going perfectly fine, until the day she started bleeding and bleeding, and she knew that if it didn’t stop, she and her baby would both die.

This is when England comes in. He doesn’t know how she knew about him - only that one day a woman summons him in order to bargain for the life of her child. 

I have a sister who will care for them, and so I can die. But please, let my child live.

Young maiden, you are not destined to die today, England had said. Only your child.

The young maiden was not happy with his answer. 

Let me die instead, she begged. 

That’s not the way it works. No single life is the same, and so no life can be traded for another. He paused. But I can make you a deal. It comes with a guarantee - eighteen years with your child. - a son, by the way. If you win, you get his full life. If you lose, he will be mine after his eighteenth birthday. I will treat him like one of my Court, and he will be safe, but you will never see him again.

Desperate, the maiden agreed readily, though she made him repeat his promise to take care of her son - a son, she was having a son.

If you figure out my name, maiden, he is yours. If you do not, he is mine.

***

Alfred’s mother had been obsessed with names when he was younger, he remembers. She had pieces of paper all around their little cottage, filled with names from books and stolen from travellers who passed through. Jeremiah and Josiah. Kallen and Maurice. 

A real name, though, is made of more than one name, but of multiple stuck together. One does not guess anyone’s true name.

His mother’s obsession had petered out when he'd turned seven or so. Instead, she had made herself fully available for Alfred. They weren’t wealthy, but she was a doting, loving mother. She taught him to cook, and bake, and clean. Most importantly, she taught him to read and write - a luxury not afforded to many in their village.

He knows now that the disappearance of her interest had come with the realisation that one cannot guess a name. Instead, she had decided to make every second with her son count.

England offers Alfred the same deal. Of course, if you figure out my name, you can leave and go back to your mother and your job and your small life. Until then, you are mine.

***

Is your name Dylan Parkinson?

No, Alfred. That is not my name.

***

England’s aristocracy is a facade. He dresses well, and the one room they stay in inside the giant castle he takes him to is furnished well enough, but when Alfred explores the rest of the castle, he finds it dilapidated and dirty, empty of anything that makes it a home. 

The one livable room has a giant, four-poster bed shoved in one corner, with a cot laid out at the foot of it meant for Alfred. The cot isn’t nice, especially not compared to England’s bed, but to Alfred, it;s better than the scratchy collection of hay and linen he was used to back home.

England doesn’t seem to actually want to do anything with him. Mostly he sits around while the man goes through paperwork. Paperwork for what, he doesn’t know. Was there some kind of Creature bureaucracy?

Alfred tries to escape a total of one time, wherein he twitched slightly with intention and England said don’t even think about it, then put him to sleep for an hour. It doesn’t seem worth it to try again.

“What am I even here for if I’m just gonna sit here and watch you stare at pieces of paper?” he complains. 

“Look,” England sighs. “Unfortunately I don’t actually have a use for you yet. Maybe a spell will require a human sacrifice at some point, then you’d be handy, but as of right now just. Sit still.”

Alfred carefully ignores the mention of human sacrific and stands up, hands on his hips. “How about I clean your house and like, cook for you and stuff? You eat, right? Sitting still is impossible for me - my mum used to say I needed to be walked like a dog.”

England waves him off. “Yes, do that, if you want. Just remember that I’ll know if you try to escape and that I can’t be poisoned.”

Alfred, who had never even considered poisoning another huma - err, living being, balks at the statement. “What the - I don’t posion food! That’s sacrilege! And just you watch, this castle is going to look amazing!”

He doesn’t think England really cares what he does as long as he’s not constantly hovering and bothering him, so Alfred decides it’s perfectly alright for him to make all the decisions regarding what to do with the rest of the non-England occupied castle.

He needs to take whatever freedom he can get, after all. 

***

Is your name Aaron Baker?

No, Alfred, my name is not Aaron Baker.

***

Alfred knows he’s a good cook. His mama was a kitchen maid for royals, and she’d taught him everything she knew. Still, the awed look on England’s face when he tries Alfred’s stew is worth more than every compliment the villagers had given him over the years. This is a being of magic, and yet he still looked at something Alfred created as if it was out of this world.

“Maybe I won’t use you for human sacrifice,” England says, two bowls later. Alfred takes it for the compliment it is, and grins back at him.

***

He doesn’t know when or how it starts, but Alfred starts eating with England. Then, he starts talking with him. He asks questions about what England does when he’s not making deals with desperate women, and finds out that there is Creature bureaucracy, and that England somehow leads it.

“Wait, you’re the King? Why are you living in an abandoned castle?”

“Our royalty do not work in the same way yours does. I must always be alone, except for my intended and my Court. The Court is made up of … well, individuals that I own. Since I prefer not to do that whole ownership thing - well, before your blasted mother wrangled a deal out of me - here we are.”

“And what, you don’t have enough juice to spruce up the castle by yourself?” Alfred asks, incredulous. A castle didn’t seem like much compared to bringing a dying unborn baby back to life. 

“There are … rules. Strange hospitality rules. It’s very stupid and not worth explaining. That is to say, I can not use magic on a home, even if it’s mine.”

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Quite.”

***

Is your name Rumpelstiltskin?

Rumpel - what? What kind of name is that? No, that’s not my name!

I saw it in a book and thought it’d be good to try it!

***

It takes three years for Alfred to complete the castle renovation to his exacting standards. Every day, England asks him if he’s figured out his name, and Alfred takes a guess. A lot of the time, they’re names of people he once knew, though sometimes they’re names he reads from books in the large library he’d found on the fifth floor (of eight, which is honestly just excessive, no one can blame Alfred for taking three years to finish everything). Mostly Alfred doesn’t put as much effort into it as he should. If his mother couldn’t do it, there’s no way he can. 

The day he finishes, he barges into his and England’s shared room to demand he see the fruits of Alfred’s labour, since he knows England would never see any of it otherwise. When he needs to leave, England just pops out of existence and to where he needs to be, no need to take the door. He hasn’t seen a lick of the work Alfred’s been doing.

Honestly, Alfred expects England to hum and feign disinterest. Well, you’ve certainly kept yourself occupied, he’ll say. Now we need to find you another hobby so you don’t bother me while I’m trying to work

That’s not what happens. England sees the clean floors and walls and the furniture Alfred had either built himself or bought from the nearby village (with money from the part-time teaching job he’d gotten himself, because England truly did not care what he did as long as he came back at the end of the day), and whispers you’ve built me a home, then turns around and shoves him against the nearest wall in order to kiss him senseless.

***

Apparently those dumb ‘can’t use your magic to build your own home’ rules are due to courtship rituals. Alfred still has no idea what exactly those rituals are, because how exactly is he supposed to remember anything when England is biting at the junction between his neck and shoulder just enough for it to hurt so good?

***

“Uh, Beef Stew.”

“You think my name is Beef Stew?”

“What? No, I’m thinking about what to make for dinner.”

***

Five years after the day England ravished him against the wall of their newly renovated castle, Alfred realises he hasn’t aged.

“My darling, I despair for you,” England admonishes. “How could you not notice you haven’t aged? It’s been eight years!”

“Wh - I’ve been busy!” I’ve been getting fucked silly every night, I’ll have you know, he carefully doesn’t say. England is too smug already.

“Well,” England begins. “Technically, I own you, so you’re tied to my life force. And because I’m immortal, well… I’m sure you can extrapolate.”

“Oh.” Alfred takes a moment to think. “So if you didn’t own me, I’d be mortal again.”

“Yes, you wouldn’t be part of the Court, then.”

And then England would be alone again, doing magical paperwork in the same room. He wonders if the castle would fall into disrepair again, without Alfred around to clean or to repair anything that breaks?

“Huh.”

***

Alfred finds England’s name by accident. 

The fifth floor library is one of his favourite places, and often he takes a few books to the school to read to the children. Quite a few of the villagers stop by to listen to the stories alongside the children, and there’s been talk of doing night classes for any of the older folks who want to learn to read themselves.

One day he finds a book that looks a lot older than the others. It’s made of brown, aged leather , and has a strange, gold symbol embedded on it that somehow looks like an infinite amount of intertwining circles. When he opens it, the first page proclaims it to be the property of Prince Arthur James Kirkland. It’s a child’s diary, though the contents are confusing, as if the child was writing about fantasies as opposed to any real places or events. Maybe Prince Arthur was never actually a prince, but a boy with a vivid imagination?

He decides to take the book to the school to show one of the other teachers, a woman by the name of Agnes who loves all things fantasy. Except when he tries to show her, she only looks confused and asks Alfred why he’s trying to show her an empty book.

He realises later what it means, and who the book must belong to. A magical book, in a castle owned by the King of Creatures, who must have once been a prince, a long time ago.

This is England’s, whose name is Arthur. This diary was a record of his childhood, before he was an all powerful king.

Alfred has found out England’s name, but finds he’s more interested in reading stories of what he was like as a precocious child, running away from nannies and scaring mortals against his mother’s orders.

***

When England - Arthur James Kirkland - asks him to guess his name that night, Alfred says, “Cinnamon Buns.”

***

England’s wrung all the pleasure from Alfred’s body that it can handle, and then some. Their last round had started with England on top, but eventually he’d maneuvered Alfred on top of his cock and made him ride him until he’d cried, cock unable to come with England’s magic wrapped tightly around it. Eventually, England had sat up and licked into Alfred’s mouth so he could swallow his lover’s cries as he undid the spell and finally, finally let Alfred finish. 

Now, Alfred’s arms are wrapped loosely around his neck, Alfred’s head laying on his shoulder. England lays him on the bed like a child, kissing his eyes, his nose, his lax mouth.

When Alfred is comfortable, England slides in beside him, chuckling when the other man immediately scoots closer in order to rest his head on his chest. Alfred’s clinginess after sex is a given; routine in the same way The Question is.

The thought makes England frown. He looks down at Alfred’s blonde head, and asks a question he’s been wanting to ask for ninety years.

“Are you ever going to answer with my real name?”

He feels Alfred tense against him. “What are you talking about?”

“About ninety years ago, I left my journal in the library for you to find,” England admits. “I wanted to give you the chance to go back to your village, see your mother again. But that night, when I asked you, you gave me a joke answer. And every day for the next forty years you never once gave the correct one - then eventually stopped even bothering to answer. I have to admit, I - I don’t understand.”

Alfred turns to look up at him, and to his surprise, he’s grinning. “Have I managed to stump The King of The Fae? Why, I think I should be proud of myself for such a feat.”

Alfred presses a kiss to England’s chin. “It’s simple, really, and you’d think that after what we’d just done you’d get it.”

His voice lowers to a whisper. “I’d already decided by then that I quite liked being owned by you.”

[obligatoryjauneblog]

Eve Au: Can we get Eve helping Blake acknowledge her romantic feelings for Blake as the final sign of forgiveness of both ends. Fluff amd final closer for the duo.

Hm, I got a better idea for their reconciliation

Blake: I guess in a world of maidens and relics, you having a kid isn't the craziest thing...

Eve: Hmm...

Blake: He's... cute, takes after his dad, you lucked out in him getting horns like you.

Eve: Let's hope that's the only thing he got from me...

Blake: ... You know there was a time I thought you had admirable traits, that you could be good... and then...

Eve: Then I fucked it all up...

Blake: ... But you got better, I think Jaune's been rubbing off on you... He's proof of that.

Eve: Yeah.. he is.

[weisscoldglare]

Winter maid weiss holding blake bridal aytle whole holding her in the sky above the kinging romantically watching the night sky together. Weiss energy trail morphs into hearts as blake kisses her cheek gentle and loving.

Y'know winter maiden Weiss is just as tragic as the other AU's

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

RK AU Idea: the Brawling Bakers, Hazel and Gretchen

Hmmm. Good basis, but ...

~~~~~

Blake: It's the Witch of the Yeast!

The tall, broad shouldered woman rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck, slinging her heavy crossbow over her shoulder

The Witch: Aye. You four are new. Are you looking for the way out?

Weiss: Yes.

The Witch: Well, I know part of the path. Unfortunately I don't know where the exit is either.

The Witch: You all must be hungry. Come. How did you find your ways to this place, Anyways?

Yang: *Thinking she looks somewhat familiar* We used magic to make bridges from Atlas to Vacuo, we got knocked off by some bad guys and now we're here.

The Witch: So you know of the Relics? Dah. I was supposed to be one of those Maidens. I got attacked by some Scorpion faunus, my Semblance went crazy and I found myself here.

Ruby: You were supposed to be a maiden?

The Witch: Yes. Given you aren't flying, none of you are?

Ruby: N-No ... Um. One of our friends from Beacon - do you know Beacon academy?

The Witch: Know It? I was top of my class! But, About your friend ... I can guess where that story ends. Where Their Story ends.

Weiss: Yes, and it's ... It's happened twice. Both of them gave themselves t protect as many as they could - to keep the powers out of another's hands.

The Witch: Well, I'm sorry ... That's horrid to hear. Y'all are real strong to keep pushin' on when they're gone.

Blake: You seem pretty young for someone from a Hundred-fifty year old book - but also was on remnant long enough to go to Beacon.

The Witch: Dah, that's the Ever After for you. I just miss my brother.

Weiss: You had a brother?

The Witch: Aye. his Name was hazel. Strong little one, all we had was each other growing up. I can only hope he's alive and well.

Yang: *Stops walking* H-hazel? You Disappeared listening to Ozpin?

The Witch: *halts, turns to Yang* Aye? What about it.

Yang: Is your name "Gretchen Rainart?""

Gretchen: ... You've met my brother? He's alive!?! IS he alright?!?

Yang: I- I- *Deep Breathe* I don't know how much you know about Ozpin's history, but he was fighting an Immortal Witch - someone named Salem. She is very strong, and very dangerous. Me and my friends were in trouble and he ... He saved us. he got us out of there.

Gretchen: ... Ah .... That ... That hurts to hear ... I am happy he did good with his life ... But that ... I haven't expected to see him again, but to know ...

Yang: I'm sorry.

Gretchen: No, don't be. It is better I know now that later. I- Let us keep moving ... I need to ... think ... about that.

[razorblade180]

Dragonslayer Week Day8: Pregnancy

[Lasting Embers Au]

After a daunting journey and calm boat ride home, Yang walked down the familiar dirt roads of Patch with a duffel bag hanging off her body. Her feet hurt a little but not as much as her head from mentally constructing the conversation she’d be having in a couple minutes.

When she finally made it home, a feeling of relief hit to see that Jaune wasn’t in the living room. It was still kinda early after all. Yang carefully tipped toed a few steps inside before the loving husband came sliding down the stair rail, landing in front of her to give a warm hug.

Jaune:Welcome back! You’re home early!

Yang:H-Hey! Since when are you an early bird? *kisses him* I thought you’d be sleeping?

Jaune:I went on a run with your parents.

Yang:(Damn, I forgot they like him!)

Jaune was quick to notice his ray of sunshine was looking a little dim. Not by much, but noticeable.

Jaune:You okay? Don’t tell me the reunion went terribly?

Yang:No- well….it started good, but then got fairly bad, but then it got good again!

Jaune:…So are you Blake on better terms?

Yang:*nods* Somehow we ended in a net positive.

Jaune:Soooo why do you look a little exhausted? Like this isn’t the “party hard” exhausted. It’s “well that just happened.”

Yang:….*teary eyed*

Jaune:!? *cuffs face* Hey hey hey, what’s wrong?

Yang:I wish it was “party hard” that trip! Can you promise me you won’t be upset?

Jaune:O..Okay? I’m all ears.

The blonde bruiser began to recount her unexpected adventure as the two of them sat on the couch.

Jaune:So instead of a simple visit to Menagerie, you and Blake went on an adventure across two different deserts to find kidnapped faunus? Can’t say that’s exactly out of the ordinary.

Yang:Yeah but it daunting. I may or may not have almost…got caught in a fiery explosion that destroyed a house.

Jaune:Who’s house exploded!?

Yang:Hehe, so that’s the kicker. This entire thing started with the Winter Maiden looking for….Adam. Who was one of the abducted.

Jaune:Ah…oh…so when you said things got fairly bad-

Yang:Old wounds and sore spots opened between Blake and I. I’m a little ashamed to say part of me didn’t want to deal with this at all but I wasn’t about to leave Blake alone in that situation.

Jaune:No one would’ve expected you to. It’s you. I get why you said it was daunting. Why didn’t you call for help?

Yang:We were on a time crunch. Things were happening so fast and…I saw some stuff i rather not talk about. We got a lot of people out but not all of them.

Jaune:Adam?

Yang:Man is too stubborn to die. For Blake and Jacquelyn’s sake, that’s a good thing. As for me…I’ll never be upset I saved a life. I just can’t believe I saved his. Imagine saving Cinder’s life.

Jaune:See, this is how I know you’re a better person than me; because I wouldn’t have done that. To be fair though, none of friends would want me to. No wonder the trip ended early, but why’d you tell me to not get upset?

Yang:….It was really dangerous throughout. I was reckless; and I even got caught up in dangerous situations when my guard was up. I should’ve asked for your input.

Jaune:I mean a call would’ve been nice but it kinda sounds no different from any of our other insane missions. You’re Yang Xiao Long, The Blazing Huntress. Strong, capable, clever, caring, and-

Yang:Pregnant. I’m…pregnant.

Her hands began fiddling with themselves as her eyes got watery, their gaze fixated on Jaune’s growing shock.

Yang:Blake didn’t know at first but after she learned I pushed to stay. I know that was so…so stupid. Even if I didn’t know what exactly I was getting into I should’ve said no, but I felt stuck between worlds! I never got hurt but….*crying* I don’t know. The more I think about it the more I realize how much I could’ve ruined us. How badly I could end up hurting you-

His arms wrapped around faster than she could blink. Yang felt her body press against his, receiving a gentle warmth that secure and yet so fragile. His fingers stroked her hair while the warmth of his tears fell on the crook of her neck.

Jaune:We’re gonna be family.

No malice or resentment. Not a drop of anxiety in the words that didn’t ponder what could’ve been. Just the sound of happy disbelief that spoke in what was going to be. It was as if a haze disappeared from Yang’s eyes that turned her tears of guilt into comfort. Jaune pulled himself away just enough for her to see the same shimmering gleam in his eyes as they begged her to speak. Yang began nodding her head again as her breath hitched through a growing smile of relief. It felt like the news finally felt real.

Yang:Yeah; we’re gonna have a baby.

[howlingday]

Just more maiden blake

First / Second / Third / Previous

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

"It sounds like you had an exciting first day." Blake's mom said with her usually cheery.

"And you're sure you didn't, uh... slip up?" Her dad, on the other hands, was his usually worrisome self.

It was to be expected, though. Her first conversation with them after who knows how long she'd left, and only days after leaving the White Fang to top it off, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they'd be feeling a whirlwind of emotions ranging from anxiety to ecstasy. What was surprising was how... not angry they were. She'd abandoned her family for the White Fang and then abandoned them to attend Beacon.

"No, Dad, I'm fine." She sighed. "And Professor Ozpin said he paid extra close attention to me while I was in my initiation."

"Mm, I don't like the way he said that." Her father grumbled through the screen.

"Oh, you know he means well." Her mother said, rubbing his arm to calm him down. Judging by his relaxing face, it must have been working. "And what about your team? What are they like?"

The question made Blake flinch. There was a lot going on with her team, and the least concerning was the fact that she was sharing a team with Weiss Schnee of all people on Remnant. But she gave a sigh and chose to answer the question as best as she could.

"Well, I just learned my partner is just as 'special' as I am."

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

"And that's when I learned what was happening to me."

"Yeesh, talk about a creepy story." Yang said, stirring her spoon in her cup. "I mean, you have a nightmare, get visited by a creepy, old dude with broken glasses, and you learn that you have a super power that you can't tell anyone all before you learn how to write your own name."

"I was still learning." Blake gave a chuckle. "But yeah, learning all of that while being so young. It's... It's uncomfortable to think that it could happen again to someone else. When did you learn?"

"Oh, you know..." Yang gave blinked a couple of time, then brought a hand to scratch her ear as she answered. "I just kinda walked into it."

An obvious lie. Blake could make a standing argument about the hypocrisy of the scenario. She'd just explained how she had to change her sheets the night she learned of her Maiden powers and how terrifying it was to be told about a double life you'd be forced to live for the rest of your life. Yet Yang refused to explain how she'd come to gain the powers herself.

But that wasn't how you made friends. Especially friends who would be going through the same thing you are.

"Well, if you ever feel the need to walk through it, just know that I'm here for you. And for your sister."

"And Weiss, too, right?"

"Yeah. Her, too." Blake didn't lie. But it was still a distance away from the truth right now.

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

"And that's how I got over my fear of bees!"

"Wow..." Jaune was in awe of the young lady in the red hood sitting across from him. He'd wished he was half as brave to run through a beehive to grab his sister's hairbrush. Unfortunately, he didn't have the stones, or the immunity, to survive even one bee.

"So, uh, what crazy things have you gone through?" Ruby asked. "You know, besides the whole initiation we went through?"

"I, uh, haven't really been through a whole lot." Jaune sheepishly replied. "My life has never been that exciting. Just me going in and out of hospitals all the time."

"Whoa!" Ruby awed this time. "Like, all the time?"

"Mhm." He nodded. "Sometimes I'd have to stay the night."

"Wow! I can't imagine being in a hospital at night. What's it like?"

"It's... cold... and dark... Not a lot of people walking around." Jaune shut his eyes as he tried to remember something neat to tell her. "One time, I slipped on a bedpan."

"What's a bedpan?"

"It's this metal thing they put under beds for patients who can't go to the bathroom."

"Ew!" Ruby shouted. "That's so gross! Was there anything in it?"

"No, but I was kind sad, though."

"Why were you sad?"

"I thought it was a dog food bowl, so I thought my parents were bringing me a puppy." Ruby and Jaune shared a laugh. A long, good, healthy laugh shared between friends. Jaune was kinda amazed. He couldn't remember the last time he had a long laugh like this one. Not without throwing u- There he goes.

"Jaune? Is everything oka-" She winced at the sound of loud vomiting reaching her ears. "Gross..." Still, she waited where he'd left her. Because that's what good friends do.

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

"Hey, Cinder! I ain't runnin' a daycare!" Cinder rolled her eyes and looked to Roman. "I'm trying to run a business here!"

"A business that can't spare time for one child?"

"What are you- No!" He shouted back. "I'm trying to keep an eye on the news for any big breaks in a heist I've got planned, and your stupid brat keeps changing the channel!"

"Well, maybe you should go to a different TV." Cinder mused aloud.

"There's only one, and I am not buying another one!"

"Well, Roman, it's your operation, and since you're the one running things here, then I guess you should figure out how to solve it, right?" Before he could get a word in response, she sauntered away, her tail swaying with delight through the air.

"Stupid, no good, demanding..." Roman groused before turning to the kid on his couch. "You! Out!"

"But I'm watching Pumpkin Pete." Mercury replied.

"I don't care! I wanna watch the news!"

"I wanna watch Pumpkin Pete!"

"Well, I don't!" Roman pointed the remote at the TV, turning it off. He then turned popped out the batteries inside and tossed them behind him. "There. No TV for anyone, because I can just read the news on my scro-"

Mercury wasn't listening. Instead, he was watching TV with the remote in his hands. He hummed along to the Pumpkin Pete Pumpkin Patch Pals theme song that played. Weren't his legs supposed to be broken?

[rocknroll7575]

Guardian Ghost AU: Beacon & Villains

Beacon's Staff:

Glynda Goodwitch - Headmistress

Summer Rose - Vice-Headmistress & Combat Instructor of 1st and 2nd year students (Fall Maiden)

Qrow Branwen - Grimm studies, Over-seer of Team PAYS, and Head of the Branwen Clan

Dr. Bart Oobleck - History & Over-seer of Team ARCZ

Jessie Peach - Head Nurse

Gretchen Rainart - Dust Studies

Cinder Briar - "Resercher"

Notable 1st year Teams:

Team PAYS

Team ARCZ

Notable 2nd year teams:

CVFY

Villains (Main):

C.C/Merlot "Lich King"

Arthur Watts

Vermillion Raddock

Tyrian Callows

Roman Torchwick

Neo

Raven Branwen (Spring Maiden)

Melanie Malachite

Militades Malachite

Semi-Villains:

Mercury Black - Hitman

Emerald Sustrai - Theif/"Magician"

Nora Valkyrie - Queen of the Valkyrie Bandits

Lie Ren - Head of Spider

Blake Belladonna-Khan - leader of The White-Fang

Adam Taurus - Head of the WF's Vale Branch

Vernal Branwen - Heir to the Branwen Clan

[brokenrealitylooper]

Fruit Loops RWBY au

So... random question for the few people who follow me for my rwby stuff...

My cousin, Zephyrus, and I worked on a RWBY timeloop AU based loosely on Innortal's timeloops idea. Basically, a person in the story is the focus of the timeloop, and when they die time resets to a--usually the same--specific point earlier in time.

An example would be Weiss dying during the attack on the Vytal festival and waking up on the bullhead transport the day she arrived at Beacon.

If you're curious, and willing to brave a few spoilers, read below and let me know if I should post the incomplete work. It does tell a big story at something like 130k words, it just isn't ended.

Long Post below the cut

In my RWBY timeloop, title Fruit Loops--all the colors ya know?--Weiss is the "anchor", the person whose death triggers a reset. At first she is the only one aware of time resetting, until an unspecified number of loops later Yang begins "waking up" and remembering both the original events and every loop she is "awake" for. Eventually Ruby and then Blake begin to join Weiss and Yang in the timeloop too, and gradually others do as well.

Now, a bit of explaining: Waking Up is used to refer to becoming aware of the timeloops for the first time, meaning this is the second time a person has experienced a set of events and remembers the previous experience. It's also used to refer to a person suddenly recalling all previous loops they've experienced. Awake is used to refer to a person who has Woken Up, a person currently aware of time looping back on itself. "Ruby is Awake." Weiss might tell Yang, letting her know Ruby now remembers all her previous experiences. A Looper is someone who has Awoken more than once and continues to do so with some regularity. Most of the time the Anchor can count on at least one of the others, if not several or all, Waking up over the course of the Loop. The start of a loop is almost always a specific day important to the life of the Anchor. In this case, Weiss' arrival at Beacon where/when her adventure starts in her "first life".

Another thing to note is that when a person Wakes in a loops can vary, and other than the Anchor the who of who Wakes can also vary. Only the anchor is awake for every loop. For example, Ruby might Wake Up on the first day at Beacon, but Weiss might not Wake until half way through the semester. Or the reverse, which is more common. Or even rarer, One of the Loopers--or the Anchor on occasion--might wake up months or years before the normal start of the Loop.

Now below this are a few spoilers, but I'm wanting to know if anyone would be interested in my version of a timeloop crack-treated-seriously fic.

0o0o0o0

The setting assumes an alternate history for RWBY; no maidens, no Salem, the attack on the Vytal festival was won or never happened, and Weiss and Jaune are planning to marry.

Weiss' home comes under attack by remnants of the White Fang led by Adam, and she fights to protect her home. Jaune and RBY rush to defend her, and arrive just in time to see Adam execute her. The next thing Weiss knows she is getting off the transport at Beacon on her first day at the school.

Now I do want to state I'm trying to remember all this from memory and don't have my notes.

Yang eventually joins Weiss in the loops, and then Ruby and Blake later on. Eventually Junior, Roman, and Jaune also Wake up to the loops. Gradually a few others do as well, Ozpin being one and Cinder another, and I think Neo did too. If I recall there was... one or two others? But I don't remember who.

Ruby and Roman hang out and flirt, eventually fall in love. They have rough patches because Roman is... not quite wired right, so he is constantly being cautious with Ruby and watching her actions and reactions, while Ruby has to learn to read his tells and learn to understand how his mind works.

Cinder is also "broken", and through a wild series of loops ends up looking at Ruby as a mother figure. Ruby, because of sharing some of those same loops, sees Cinder as a daughter. Because of these events, Ruby is able to get Cinder to basically sit on her violent urges and become a more...mellow person. Or at least safe to be around.

Another thing to note is that they also visit other realities. Sometimes their Loop...well...loops through another story. They live in that world with the memories of the person they are temporarily replacing plus all their own memories. Those loops "stick" with them, letting them usually have access to powers from other realms in addition to their normal Aura and abilities.

An example would be Ruby and Weiss having--in different loops--replaced Rei from NGE and having access to an AT-Field and the powers it grants. Or Blake having a loop in Forgotten Realms--a DnD setting--and thus having access to druid spells.

On top of that, they gradually grow in skill and power, their abilities carrying-over from loop to loop. By the end, for example, Ruby is able to weaponize her rose petals and teleport--not dash--to anywhere she has left a rose petal before it's faded, and she has full control over her AT-Field and can both sense other--especially her friends--and can even trigger and control micro-Instrumentalities (explained at the bottom). Literally the only looper more powerful than Ruby by the end is Weiss, and that's because she's Awake more often than Ruby and thus has more time practicing and more loops building up her power.

Realize this: they loop for potentially thousands of loops. That's anywhere from a year to a couple decades lived before time loops before the anchor dies or is killed and they get to do everything slightly differently "this time".

I know I gave away a big plot point by stating Ruby and Roman fall in love in the loops they are both Awake for, but it doesn't do the many scenes of them justice. (the time loops also mean Ruby is mentally much older than Roman, though after hundreds of loops the gap in "age" starts to look very small) And I also have several plot points that focus on Ruby and Roman that I haven't given away.

Now, about Instrumentality. For those unfamiliar with Evangelion, Instrumentality is the unifying of all souls into a single consciousness under the watchful awareness of a single person. A micro-Instrumentality, like what Ruby can do eventually, is the loose merging of Ruby's and one--or a few--other's souls.

I will also say, here at the end of this massive post, that at least I decided the overall trigger for time looping back on itself was the event of Instrumentality in the Evangelion universe. The event, in my headcanon for Fruit Loops, fractured all realities; this allows for the crossovers that give Ruby her AT-Field and Blake her spells, but also explains why time... broke, for lack of a better word. It also means that I can use it as a reason for why time would eventually "fix" itself and eventually stop looping. Well, that, and Zephyrus and I decided there would be a hidden "big bad" in RWBY--not Salem!--that was the reason Remnant was vulnerable to having its timeline broken by Instrumentality.

[lovingdabeessss]

Ever wonder about how Yang knows she's probably gonna be the next spring maiden?

I do wonder however personally I don’t think Yang ponders the possibility of her being the maiden to often

Mostly in avoidance of the very complicated emotions that would come with ravens possible death and also because she believes in ravens ability to run and hide from danger

In yangs mind almost every death she’s seen is from people refusing to run away

either sacrificing themselves or being dedicated to an insane person like Salem or being obsessive and insane (Adam)

And Raven is not this kinda person she always runs at least in yangs mind she does and this might actually bring her comfort in the sense of her not dying

That’s why if she does die it’ll be like 5x more fucked up for Yang

AND there’s a possibility that yang doesn’t believe she would be who ravens thinks of last when she dies

She might not think Raven cares for her anywhere near that much

But WE know she’s (most likely) the next spring maiden if raven dies

And that’s something I LOVE to think about

Like my little brain came up with an au a while back where I was thinking about what if post Yang telling everyone Raven is the maiden they go on a little family trip together Raven and Yang and raven dies and Yang comes back and just says she left

In the sense of wanting to wait a little till she has to come to terms with her mom dying like maybe she says she’s “gone” and everyone assumes left and that’s why she’s upset and she can’t bring herself to correct them

And also what if they decide that to counter whatever cinders doing with trying to get all maiden powers they need to do that and winter needs to take all of that power

And it’s a really hard talk about how winter would need to kill yangs birth mother which would be a super terrible thing to try and reason to Yang but they’d have to (plus most people in that group hate ravens it’s just for yangs sake they really feel bad like Weiss hates her for bad parent solidarity and Blake loves her girlfriend and ruby loves her sister)

Not knowing that they’re actually talking about Yang who’s now the spring maiden

Like wouldn’t that be messed up?

Anyway yeah ignore my random stupid au thanks for the ask sorry for taking forever school is hard

[bafflement]

Deaged Oz AU - Crossing The Bridge... Or Not - Part 1

“And you’re certain you can trust the relic to get us to Vacuo?” Yang asked, staring at Tip, who shuffled slightly, biting his lip.

“I mean, mostly? They like creating things, and this would give them a challenge. But… if he gives you a warning, you have to listen to him. If you don’t, there could be very bad consequences. He might not necessarily tell you everything, either… you’ll need to listen very carefully and follow instructions precisely. I should really go with you, but…” he broke off, glancing down at his left leg in vague despair. It had healed, mostly… but the travel down to the vault was long and he wasn’t certain it would hold up for it, much less the trip back. He really hated feeling this useless, but… besides. There was too great a risk that Ambrosius would be distracted by sheer hilarity. After all, it wasn’t often that Oz was in a state this vulnerable and as far as he was aware, this one was unique. He both was and wasn’t Ozma, not fully, not yet. And yet, he’d also never really stopped being. The risk was far too great that Ambrosius, being who and what he was, would find Tip the more intriguing puzzle.

“Hey, Pocketsized. We’ll be okay. I promise we’ll listen, you don’t have to worry about us. Will you be okay, here? I know we’re not all going, but Salem already snatched you once, what if she tries to again?” Blake sounded concerned, reaching out to ruffle Tip’s hair without really thinking about it. Tip let her without commenting, which drove home just how worried he really was about this. But then, after what happened with Jinn, could any of them really blame him?

“She’s unlikely to try it in the same way. I just worry, especially since she already has the lamp. She could easily use it to try to thwart us and if that happens, I can’t even help you. Not really, not like this.” He sighed, looking very young in that moment, the inch or so showing at his wrists just lending itself more to the overwhelming image of confused youth. They all knew it was misleading but… Tip was really rather adorable when he did that, not that he’d be very happy to be reminded of it.

Those going exchanged glances, then Ruby shot a reassuring smile over at him. Penny just nodded, head cocked slightly. She still found it rather fascinating that this small boy was, or rather had been Professor Ozpin. She was aware of magic, of course. Not only had the General informed her of such, she was the current winter maiden. She hadn’t been built to believe in magic and fairy tales, but her father had intended her to grow. This was certainly growth of a sort, right?

Tip sighed as they left, still looking deeply conflicted. He should be there! He should be the one to talk to Ambrosius, he knew him far better than the others did. While creating a way to Vacuo would no doubt intrigue him, the relic could so easily trick anyone they talked to. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the others, of course he did… but they were still going to converse with someone who might not have their best wishes in mind. After Jinn… were the relics as tired of this as he was? What if, in the end, he allowed something to happen in the sheer hopes of being allowed to be free? After all, they were just as chained to the whims of the brothers as he himself was, and with even less freedom. At least he could move around on his own, wasn’t trapped in a vessel waiting. Why had that never even occurred to any of the previous versions, though? Surely, if it was as obvious as he thought it was, then they would have known by now? Would have set something up, at least enough that the four could have some semblance of lives of their own?

After all, even Ozma had never known just where the relics came from, what they originally were. What if they really were just as trapped as he was, was it possible to free them? Could he free them, did he dare, considering Salem?

Was it fair, to keep them trapped like that though? No, of course it wasn’t. They deserved their freedom… he really hated the Brothers, at times like this.

“Tip?” Oscar ventured, voice soft. “They’ll be alright, you know they will! Ruby knows what she’s doing, so do the others. It’ll be fine!”

“I can only hope that it will, Oscar. I just… they need to be incredibly careful in how they word this request, he’s likely to take things very, very literally. I should be there!”

“No way, Pocketsized.” Jaune interjected, looking stern. “Salem almost killed you, you’re not up to the journey. You know that, you know they’ll be okay!”

“And if they’re not? If something happens because they don’t say the right thing, or make slightly the wrong request?”

“Then we’ll deal with that when it happens. We need to get everybody to Vacuo, you know that.” Jaune sighed. “We’re hunters, Tip. We knew what we were signing up for. I know we’re young, but so are you, you’re eleven years old! I know the wizard doesn’t count, but you do. Putting yourself in danger when the others can and have volunteered for this, you realise we’d just worry more, right?”

“You are my students, Jaune. I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around. I know that I’m young physically, but still… I should be protecting the rest of you. If something goes wrong here, it falls on my shoulders. If I hadn’t been quite so, well, helpless, Salem would never have been able to snatch me in the first place. The injuries I carry are a direct result of my own stupidity.”

“NO, Tip.” Oscar sounded deeply frustrated now, glaring at the younger boy hotly. Tip flinched slightly, but met his eyes, his own self hatred burning bright. “Salem snatched you from Atlas. You were meant to be safe there, we all were. It isn’t your fault that she snatched you, you aren’t weak for being injured. Look, I know, you’re used to being stronger than you are right now. But if you plan to protect us, then you have to let us protect you, too. It goes both ways, we care about you! You matter, Tip. Why else would you be my brother?”

“… I know!” Nora interjected, brightly. “Why don’t we all just calm down and eat something. Pancakes, maybe?” She shot a hopeful look to Ren, who rolled his eyes but got up to make them anyway. Some of the tension in the room faded at that, though Tip’s shoulders were still stiff, his face still anguished. It didn’t matter what any of them were going to say, really, though. If anything happened to his students, everybody would just blame him anyway. He was the one responsible, ultimately. Oh, why had he let them go and talk to Ambrosius alone?

“So, you need a path to Vacuo, a way to get everybody from one kingdom to another quickly? I could probably do that…” Ambrosius murmured, amusement in his voice. “However… just don’t fall.”

Yang huffed as they all made their way back to the others who were waiting for them. That could probably have gone better, though at least Penny was human now? Somehow, though she was unsure what Pocketsized would make of that… after all, they had had a specific mission and that wasn’t really it. But then, with her human she couldn’t be controlled anymore. Nobody could tell her to do anything but herself. For a second, an image of Tip being controlled by the creepy wizard dude flashed across her mind, but she shook her head. It wasn’t the same thing, right? Ambrosius was a smug bastard, though. She really, massively didn’t like him.

From the looks the others were exchanging, that feeling appeared to be very, very mutual. He’d set up the path, though. They’d get there, they’d get to Vacuo. Everything would be okay, though she could see why the Professor was so worried. Maybe he really should have come along? Nah… they’d done just fine on their own.

Ruby’s nose twitched as they neared the rooms the others were currently occupying. Could she smell pancakes? Huh, maybe she was just hungry after dealing with the relic. Pancakes would be really nice right about now, though.

There were definitely pancakes, lots of them, though it was slightly harder to enjoy them while being peppered by Tip’s anxious questioning. At least he’d seemed relatively relieved by what Ambrosius had set up regarding the pathway to Vacuo? He kept giving Penny confused looks, too, and Yang snorted to herself. She’d totally called it, he really wasn’t that impressed.

Tip shifted in his seat, biting his lip nervously. He knew better than anyone the sort of loopholes Ambrosius left in the requests he actually agreed to answer.

Don’t fall.

But then, how hard could that really be?