#poor Gretchen you keep striking out girl

[chellodello]

I think we should revisit Skoodge moving into Zim’s basement. As a treat.

[jade-marie]

Top 10 books fics I read in 2020

Tagged by @sothischickshe

I don’t read books. I’m trash. So have my top 10 fics. These aren’t in any real order, btw.

Finally got round to adding some content to each one. Send word to my family, I died doing this. All the fluffy goodness is hitting me right in the feels😭😭😭

Do not collect $200 by @mrslackles

My OG favourite series. I will talk about this till the cows come home, I will read it over and over again until the day I die. So fucking good. The plot, the characterisation, the angst, the fluff, it just has everything and I fucking love it.

Favourite snippet:

Her touch is so light that Rio shivers and his tongue darts out for a second, meeting two of her fingers, and it makes their eyes meet.

And the look she finds there, god, it’s indescribable – no words, there are no words. Yet she knows what it means. Nobody’s ever told me I’m a good kisser and nobody’s ever touched you like this.

She doesn’t say it aloud but it doesn’t matter, not really. They both know it.

And Beth doesn't know when she falls asleep, only that it's with her palm on his throat and her fingers splayed over his lips.

Lush life by @hereliesbb

Lush life is basically my comfort blanket. I have a bad day, I read it and I’m smiling again. Every time. Without fail. The fluffiest fucking shit I’ve ever read in my life, even the angst is fluffy. I love it so much, I cannot find the words. 

Favourite snippet:

“What?” she asked when she saw he was staring. She looked back in the mirror to make sure she didn’t have anything in her teeth.

“You’re beautiful,” he said and then huffed like he was making fun of himself. Beth felt her face flush and about a hundred thousand butterflies take flight inside of her.

Warm water by @inyoursheets

Angst, yearning, friends to lovers, slow burn AND THEY WERE ROOMMATES. Such a good read omg 😫

Favourite snippet:

She kisses him.

Elizabeth. Elizabeth kisses him.

He can’t move—can’t think, not with her up close, her scent overwhelming him, her soft body pressed into him—when she’s already pulling back, jerking to a halt.

And just like that, he’s done. Finished. Can no longer find it in him to keep it up, his carefully crafted indifference, the control he tried to grasp so eagerly. No point guarding it from her any longer, not with those wild, wide eyes peering up at him like he can give her something, here, now.

Good sport by fireinsideforfun

Again, phenominal characterisation. I love the way she portrays their vulnerability. It’s just so so so beautifully written. 

Also, the image of Rio drowning in a pair of ginormous pyjamas makes me feel some shit🤣

 Favourite snippet:

“You’re not going to go rotten on me, are you darlin’?” he quietly asks her.

The question takes her aback, because although his voice is gentle his eyes are speaking volumes, something dark and desolate brewing.

“No. Never,” she says to him and means it.

He scoffs. “How can you know?”

“Because we’ve already been there before,” she says, and she can tell he knows what she’s referring to. “I already tried to get rid of the king and I couldn’t do it. We’ve been through those motions together. It’s done.”

Milkshakes by @emilykolburn

Dad Rio vibes, Rio and babies. Milkshake meetcute. I cannot. Literally so adorable.

Favourite snippet:

Rio was looking her up and down, slowly taking in every inch of her that he could, and she noted that he had that twinkle in his eyes again. When his eyes eventually found hers, he tilted his head to the side a little, tongue running slowly across his bottom lip. The intensity in the eye contact alone made her want to shrink away. She wasn’t used to it, she realised, but the longer they looked into each other’s eyes, and the way the corner of his mouth slowly twitched up into a smirk, she found she liked it.

Irresistible by @wakeupflawless

Highschool au. Enemies to lovers. I eat that shit UP.

Before anyone could say anything, she grabbed the front of his shirt, yanking him down to her for a very public, very dirty kiss.

“Oh, shit,” She heard Pedro say.

For once in his life Rio must have been stunned, because he was frozen against her for a moment. He grabbed her hips, pulling her closer to him and deepening the kiss. The bystanders erupted, she heard hoots and hollers coming from the guys and exclamations of “Oh my God!” from the girls.

“Hey! That’s enough” Called the Vice Principal, “Everyone get to class!”

Beth broke their kiss, panting slightly and grinning ear to ear.

“What was that?” Rio asked, raising his eyebrows.

“So everyone knows I’m hittin’ it,” Beth replied, smirking, “And also to say sorry,”

Love despite by @itsbriology

Dad Rio strikes again. If Lindsay throws in one more big-hand-small-baby-ratio reference... i’m pretty sure my ovaries will explode inside of my body and I’ll die of internal bleeding 🙃🙃🙃

Favourite snippet:

The hiccups lasted longer than he thought, almost to the point he wondered if there wasn’t something else he could do for her. But they eventually slowed and so did her tears, and then he stopped and looked down at her little head full of soft brown hair that had landed on his chest and watched her eyes drift shut again from the pure exhaustion of the near traumatizing event.

“There ya go, sleepy head. See, I told ya.��� He laughed down at her as he continued holding her and pushing the cart down the aisle. A little old lady stopped and took in the sight of them.

“Someone’s a good daddy,” She smiled up at him with Jane cozy in his arms and he stopped. The lady looked to be about eighty and probably weighed seventy pounds.

“Uhh, no… this ain’t…” He tried telling her but she interrupted.

“What an adorable little girl you’ve got there.”

The lady looked up at them grinning.“Thank you.” He smiled back, not knowing what else to say in that moment.

Criminology 101 by @sdktrs12

College au. Cars being destroyed. Fluffy shit. Idiots being idiots. LOVE ITTTTT

He moves one hand up to brush her hair out of her face. “Do you trust me?”

I do that’s the whole problem, she wants to scream. She finds herself nodding quietly instead.

“That’s good.” He leans down, presses his lips against her temple in a soft kiss that makes her heart skip a beat.

Beth closes her eyes as she leans into him, giving in and letting herself fall into the dark abyss that is his touch, his smell, his voice.

Shit.

She’s in so much trouble.

Both sides of the law by @joeyjoeylee

Slow burn. Y E A R N I N G. But they don’t even know they’re yearning. Taking the constant oneupmanship and translating it into a law school setting - genius. So so good.

Favourite snippet:

“Shouldn’t you be at the bar?” She really needed to let Gretchen know some of the staff had a distinct professionalism problem. If, or when, she was in charge of throwing the party next year, she’d have to make sure they did a better job of recruiting the help.

“Was just there, actually.” He wiggled his hand to show her the beer bottle he was holding. “But Gretch got on me ‘bout not having my nametag.”

She was confused and a little scandalized. Was he really drinking on the job? And…”Gretch”? He had to mean Gretchen? Granted, Beth barely knew her, but Gretchen hadn’t seemed like someone who would be on a first name basis with the staff. And why would he have a nametag? Nametags were for the students, and he was just a bartender…

Oh.

Oh no.

Everything seemed suddenly to be moving very slowly and she seemed to be watching it all unfold from outside her own body.

She watched him lean closer again to reach behind her and pick up the last nametag from the table.

She watched him pluck the Sharpie from her hand and use it to cross out “Christopher” then write “Rio” in big block letters that still managed to look messy.

Then she watched as he made a production of pinning the nametag just so to his lapel, mirroring her, exact and mocking, grinning down at her all the while.

Oh no.

A time to kill @sothischickshe

JUSTICE FOR MICK. And his shirt. Poor bby did not sign up for dealing with these two dumbasses and their dumbassery. Grumpy Rio pov is always a winner in my book. It’s comedy gold.

Favourite snippet:

Jesus, her hair is past lank. He sniffs. “You’re ripe. Go shower, man.”

Elizabeth grumbles incessantly until he agrees she can have coffee first, but he draws a line under a single cup, demanding she hurry.

Rio opens the windows wide as they allow. There’s a distinct scent of manure in the air, but it honestly might be preferable.

“That shirt needs washing too!” he yells from a safe nasal distance.

She literally punts the shirt at him from the bathroom, before slamming then locking the door. The handle vibrates for ages after.

He debates sourcing some tongs to handle the offending item with. When he can’t find any, considers setting fire to it instead. Surely Elizabeth can make herself a dress outta all the hair she incessantly moults over every inch or some shit.

Eventually he chucks it in for a wash with some other bits, holding his nose closed.

Elizabeth’s in the bathroom for fucking ages. He assumes it’s payback for pointing out she stunk, or whatever. But it ain’t cute.

He jiggles the handle, knocks on the door. There’s no response.

“Oi!” Rio shouts. “Hurry up, I gotta piss!” It’s not, strictly speaking, true. But. It could be. Hogging the bathroom’s just rude.

“Go away!” she squawks. Then, “Go outside!”

He keeps it up, and she mostly ignores him. Though when he insinuates she’s taking the world’s longest shit, she does straight up tell him to fuck off.

Tagging @purplemagic @wakeupflawless @00gangfriend00 @joeyjoeylee

[minoukatze]

Homecoming

Chapter Twenty-One

The room somehow seemed to grow darker, chillier, all remnants of celebration for a successful sting driven out. Johann went rigid, the question draining all color and victory from his craggy face.

Johann pleaded. “Victor, this isn’t a good time.”

“Of course it’s not,” Victor countered heatedly. “But there never will be one. I need to know, and I cannot leave the question any longer.”

“I…uh…” Johann ran his fingers through his fluffy white hair. “Victor, I don’t think you really want to know the answer.”

“I have resigned myself to the notion that it must be traumatic,” Victor replied. “Sigmar’s sake, Johann, I am fifty-six years old and I have seen more horror than you can imagine. Do you honestly believe that I cannot handle it?”

“It’s not that, Victor,” Johann replied wearily. “It’s just…whatever positive memories you have of your mother…I don’t want this to color them.”

“I am not a sentimental man, Johann,” Victor stated firmly. “You should know this by now. I need to know the truth.”

Johann sighed. “Very well, but you have been warned. It is not a pleasant tale.”

“Duly noted,” Victor replied. “Tell me.”

“Right.” Johann set to pacing. “So. When you were nearing your Trials, your mother…well…you remember she was always zealous, but when we got word you were to begin them she…she sort of took it to new heights…or depths…whichever way you want to look at it. Sieglinde began raving in the street, preaching to passersby…began to badger the chapterhouse, kept demanding to know your location. When we received word of your success, she lost all sense.” Johann swallowed heavily. “She shaved her head, used one of your father’s brands to burn the comet into her forehead, and then hammered a few nails into her skull for good measure. She pounded on my door, howling, demanding to know where you were so that she could follow you on mission.”

Victor felt the room began to spin. He grasped the chair and slid into it.

“Victor, I can stop. You don’t need to know more than…”

“Continue.”

Johann nodded sadly. “She began to camp out at the door of the chapterhouse, braying verse at the top of her lungs and trying to wear me down. We would have to keep alerting your father to bring her home, and the first few times it worked. After she found the flail, though, there was no use.” Johann paused to rub his temples. “As you can imagine, she didn’t take the greatest care of her injuries, and it’s very possible the nails were rusty. Walburga went to Sieglinde every day, begging to clean her wounds, and Sieglinde would chase her away every time. ‘Slattern! Slattern!’ she’d yell.” Johann shook his head ruefully. “I can still hear it in the back of my head. It was almost like the town clock tolling on the hour. ‘Slattern! Slattern!’” Johann reflexively waved his arms in imitation, then stopped himself, clearing his throat in chagrin. “We could see Sieglinde failing every day, but could do nothing to help. No one could get near her. Finally, Sieglinde fell asleep on our doorstep, and Walburga decided to try to treat her, thinking the woman weakened. As soon as Walburga’s salve touched your mother’s brand, Sieglinde awoke screaming and attacked. She smashed her flail into Walburga’s shoulder. Sieglinde was ready to cave the poor girl’s head in, when her son, just a wee lad at that point, ran up and tried to defend his mother. Had we not been there to apprehend Sieglinde, she would have destroyed the both of them. And if it weren’t for Old Lady Somner, poor Walburga probably would have lost her arm. It took five of us to subdue your mother, and then we strapped her down to a table and had Doctor Knudsen clean her wounds, but it was too late.” Johann knelt down opposite Victor, his blue eyes pleading. “Victor, I’m so sorry. That is probably what we should have done at the start, but I don’t know if she would have just gone and hammered more nails into her head. Your father did not want her thrown into a sanatorium, but…” Johann stood again. “There it is. Your mother was not well mentally. She loved you in her own sick, demented way, but…”

Victor stared blankly at the wall. He felt as if he’d been hollowed out, a shell in leather and chainmail arranged upon a chair.

“Victor?”

“And what about my father?” Victor asked quietly, his voice empty.

“That one was tragic, but mundane,” Johann replied. “Same as in the letter. He was trying to shoe a horse, got distracted, the horse was spooked by something and kicked out. It was sudden and painless. Victor, I am so…”

“Thank you,” Victor interrupted. “I will need a moment, and then I will report to the chapterhouse. Please tell my friends to supplement the guards at the appointed spot in the forest.”

“Victor, are you sure? I…”

“I will be there.”  Victor’s breath was steady, his voice even. “Just give me a moment.”

“If you need to talk…” Johann hesitated, seeing Victor’s stone-faced expression. “You can always…”

“Yes, Captain.”

Johann nodded and turned for the door. “Right. I will expect you shortly.”

After Johann departed, Victor was still for a very long time, aware of the avalanche of rage and pain threatening to consume him, but distant as of yet. For the moment, he was numb, stunned, the news not unlike a strike from a Chaos Warrior. He had assumed agony and illness, but the madness…

The worst of it was that it was a madness Victor understood well. He had edged close to that line several times and had drawn back just at the brink of oblivion. Every time the Order shunned him, every scrap of evidence disbelieved, every nightmare of a ravaged town uncovered…They are fools, they are nothing, there is only the lustration of Sigmar, and my will to serve…they will see, the world will see, and they will be forced into submission…I am the hammer of Sigmar and they will REPENT! REPENT!

That sudden terror, the very same that flared the moment the rye bread touched his tongue the first day he had arrived, arose and swallowed Victor whole. He sat petrified in his chair, pulse speeding, gripping the arms of his chair…he forced himself to steady his breath and unclench his jaw, remembering what had dragged him out of this hysteria before. Duty. Purpose.

Vengeance.

Victor stood.

Gilbert Falkenrath awaited his pleasure.

*

Victor had not had time to assess the Senden chapterhouse interrogation chambers as of yet. From what Johann had told him, theirs was among the most technologically advanced in the Empire, all thanks to the man currently restrained in it. One could slice the irony with a knife.

When Victor entered the chamber, he could appreciate the various cutting edge instruments of destruction therein. There were shiny things that whirred, hydraulic things that pummeled (Dwarven in origin, Victor supposed), racks which required no cranking. They were all well and good, but Victor was more of a traditionalist. He preferred to be a bit more hands-on, and while he did enjoy experimenting with other tools, Victor never needed anything more than a single blade to carve out whatever secrets lurking inside of the heretic before him.

You will find that witch hunters have a certain mastery over time, Victor liked to say. With this scalpel, I can stretch a minute into an eternity.

Victor had been practically salivating over the thought of this very moment ever since he had arrived in town. Seeing Gilbert strapped to the table, though, Victor felt oddly…empty. Gilbert was particularly pathetic-looking on the slab; his fish-belly white stomach bulbous and vulnerable; his arms and legs skinny and stringy; his jowly face wan and haggard; shadowed with scrubby, threadbare stubble. Victor expected to be met with shock, terror, pleading; but received none. Gilbert looked upon the hunter resigned; relieved, even.

“So, Victor,” Gilbert rasped. “Our merry dance ends.”

“You seem unsurprised by your reversal of fortune, Gilbert,” Victor remarked, inwardly disappointed.

“Not so much unsurprised,” Gilbert breathed. “As you know, I have sinned, and sinned greatly. I suppose that for the past two days I have been subconsciously hoping for retribution.” He peered at Victor with weary, bloodshot eyes. “I deserve every scream you are going to rip from me. I only ask that you wait as I give you my confession, as I wish to give it with a mind unclouded by pain.”

Damn. He was taking all of the fun out of this. “Very well, Gilbert. Give me the record of your misdeeds.”

“My son…” Gilbert’s steady voice faltered, broke. “My Axel…they took him, and I let them. I could have gone in his stead, but I was a worthless coward. I would do it now, Victor! I have my courage now!” He broke into blubbering sobs. “Oh gods! Switch our places! Turn back the clock and take me instead!”

It was not the first time a suspect broke down in tears upon his table, but Victor had never allowed it to deter him before. Now, though…Victor felt no glee or satisfaction, rather the opposite. He was curiously depressed at the sight of his childhood enemy, helpless and utterly defeated before him.  Victor was not pleased by this turn of events.

“Were your children involved in your criminal activities?” Victor asked tonelessly.

“Gilly never did anything too horrible, and Gretchen…Gretchen liked you, Victor, remember?” Gilbert gasped. “Please…please spare her. She has done nothing terrible, never harmed a soul.”

“By hiding a beastman camp, or worse?” Victor replied coolly. “We know of her work. We know that she is a rogue grey mage, and the Grey Order is currently dismantling everything she has wrought in this town, and they do not take kindly to pretenders…”

“Wait, what?” For the first time, Gilbert strained against his bindings. “Victor, you must stop them!”

“You expect leniency after-“

“VICTOR!” Gilbert yelled. “The town is in great peril! Gretchen’s spell is the only barrier keeping the creatures from invading Senden!”

“What?” Victor demanded. “What are you saying?”

“There is a tunnel into our cellar,” Gilbert replied urgently. “My god, Victor, stop the wizards or get every hunter to the manor, otherwise Senden is doomed.”

“Sir?” An apprentice burst into the interrogation chamber. “Um…there’s a lot…we need your help!”

“It begins…” Gilbert howled. “Oh, Sigmar preserve us, it begins!”

[littlemisssquiggles]

RWBY Musings #20: I don’t want to believe that Hazel is just going to be a one off villain for this season. But perhaps Oscar will unlock his semblance to help him take the first step towards dealing with his vengeance towards Ozpin as well as his own redemption.

Before I go more in depth with my point on Hazel and Oscar/Ozpin, let me kick this musing off by addressing the imminent fight between Ruby and Yang vs. Emerald and Mercury.

I think a hand-to-hand combat battle may be reserved for Ruby and Yang tag teaming to fight Emerald and Mercury.

Since using Crescent Rose failed her the first time against Emerald, possibly this rematch with her would force Ruby to think carefully this time and try hand to hand combat instead.

I think Ruby utilizing her hand-to-hand training would be better suited for her sisterly battle with Yang seeing as it holds more significance as a beautiful tie back to the Yang Volume 5 Character Trailer.

They already hinted at Yang being the one to go down into the vault to apprehend Raven and Cinder so I’m hoping that the CRWBY writers stuck to this. After all, Ruby was still very much KO’d when Nora yelled to Yang to stop Cinder, Vernal and her mom.

So I seriously trust that the writers don’t backtrack this earlier statement and have both Yang and Ruby go down to the vault. Not only will it be a plot point inconsistency but, it’d also be really, really dumb for Ruby to tag along with Yang to face Cinder knowing very darn well that Cinder is after her.

Sending Ruby to fight Cinder would literally be like sending an innocent prey straight into the mouth of its eagerly waiting predator, ready for the feed.

So yeah, for what it’s worth, I hope Yang goes solo into the Vault of the Spring Maiden. Not only does it hold more meaning cause it’ll mean the possibility of seeing Raven fighting alongside Yang and even protecting her from Grimm Fall Maiden Cinder but also cause it’s the more sensible solution.

Seriously if they make Ruby go with Yang into the Vault of the Spring Maiden, all the obscene language and colourful cuss words in the English dictionary would not be enough to voice my anger at the sheer stupidity of how foolish that will be. So...yeah for what it’s worth, I really hope Yang ventures underground alone while Ruby remains safe (well at least safe from Cinder’s grimm-y little hands) above to offer some well-needed assistance to Oscar (who by then would’ve probably reverted back to himself since Ozpin would’ve exhausted his control over his body) fighting Hazel.

Qrow has to be down after taking such a hard lash for Ozpin/Oscar. I would not be surprised if he’s either down for the count or too wounded to keep fighting. Even with Qrow’s Aura protection being at its highest, no amount of it could safeguard him from a blow like that. So I think he’s out.

 We all know poor Lie Ren, even with his bad ass gun blades of fury, is gonna be knocked out eventually too. Even if Nora was to suddenly break cover and rush to Ren’s defence, even she won’t be of much help. 

And with Jaune too focused on healing Weiss back to full strength, there’s no way those two would be joining the fray. Jaune can’t afford any distractions since he needs to concentrate all of his semblance on patching up Weiss.

And even if by some struck of a miracle, Jaune manages to fully heal Weiss, I highly doubt she’ll be ready to jump back into the battle. Would she? Nah! That’d be unbelievable.

This leaves Ruby and Oscar alone to take on the Dust Juggernaut . I have a greater inclination towards this for two very good reasons.

One, personally, I want to see Ruby and Oscar fighting together for the first time to stop Dust Hazel (maybe as one, the two younglings can work up a clever strategy to take out the four dust crystals embedded in Hazel’s arms that are the source of his power. Bonus if part of their plan involves tricking Lionheart into unintentionally using his weapon to take out one of the crystals for them which backfires and ends up knocking him out of the battle too. Either that or Ruby/Ren take out Lionheart beforehand in helping Oscar).

And secondly, I want a daring moment where Ruby tries to protect Oscar from Hazel (in the same manner as Qrow from earlier) and ends up either getting injured and knocked out or placed in a tight choke hold as Hazel threatens to end her life before Oscar’s very eyes.

I want this cause I’m hoping this will either lead to Oscar unlocking his own semblance in the heat of the moment, like Jaune or revealing one of the many so-called hidden ‘tricks’ of Ozpin’s cane to put an end to Hazel’s rampage.

While I wouldn’t mind seeing more of Oz’s weapon, my money is mostly on Oscar awakening his semblance as a result of seeing Ruby hurt.

We saw how much seeing Ruby simply unconscious resulted in a very aggressive reaction from Oscar at Lionheart’s expense. So imagine what could happen if Hazel gets his hulking hands on her and does further harm.

I’m not sure whether or not the CRWBY writers plan on making Oscar the ‘new Jaune’ by prolonging the reveal of his semblance til a future season. However seeing as the topic of both Jaune and Oscar awakening their semblance was brought to light this season, this gives me hope for us getting a taste of Oscar’s semblance soon.

I can wait for Oz’s cane tricks (unless us fans luck out and we get to see both Ozpin really use his cane and Oscar showcase his semblance all in the same episode) as I really want to see Oscar’s semblance because I feel like it can help turn the tides of the battle with Hazel.

Those of you who have been following my musings know how much I want Oscar to have a mind semblance. I’ve been preaching this possibility since the thought of Oscar possessing his own super power separate from Ozpin from brought up in the show.

If Oscar has a mind/mental-semblance, then imagine if he’s able to project his own memories onto someone else’s mind. Like what if...using his semblance, Oscar unintentionally projects Ozpin’s memories of his time spent with Gretchen Rainart into Hazel’s mind and we get a moment of a past conversation Ozpin had with Gretchen. Remember how back in Volume 1, we got those little scenes of Ozpin having one on one talks with the main four girls? 

For the sake of this example, let’s use Ruby. Remember how back in the very first episode of RWBY, when Ozpin first met Ruby, one of the questions he asked her was why she wanted to become a huntress.

Let’s say, we get a parallel memory of Ozpin meeting a young Gretchen Rainart for the first time and prompting her with the very same question. Why did she want to become a huntress? Hazel and his sister seemed to have shared a really close bond and I wouldn’t be surprised if their closeness was mostly due to her being the only family he had left. What if...Gretchen’s whole motive for becoming a huntress was so that she could train and become strong enough to protect the one person she loved the most in the world; her older brother who has always taken care of her and kept her safe. Since Hazel has always been there for Gretchen, it wouldn’t surprise me if she strongly desired to become strong enough to return the favour and become someone that Hazel can depend on too.

If Oscar possesses a semblance that can do this and show a scene like this to Hazel then...it can really change things up in the show. This is exactly why I want Oscar to have a mind semblance above any kind of hidden power. For the sheer purpose of using it to connect to someone’s heart and thoughts and help them through their pain with their memories.

And I think a power like that would suit Oscar perfectly because it’ll complement the type of strong-minded and caring individual he is.

Remember what I said regarding Chapter 5 and how Oscar’s conversation with Ruby was intended to help her rather than just reveal his own fears.

I still stand by my earlier point that Oscar reached out to Ruby since he noticed her depression over the loss of her friends and sincerely wanted to help her realize and overcome it.

The young farm boy possesses a strong willpower to help others overcome the pains of their past and their emotions, even if he doesn’t know the right words to say to bring it out. Oscar strikes me as being quite blunt in how he approaches others when talking to them about touchy subjects or their emotions; a heavy contrast to the shy way he approaches people in general. It can be appear upfront at first but this approach sometimes actually helps depending on the individual in question. It worked with Ruby and another example of this is recently with Hazel and Ozpin. I loved how the entire time Oscar fought Hazel, he never once struck him. The strikes came later when Ozpin took over. The irony is that Ozpin implied that he’s better suited to confront Hazel due to their history however the instant he took control, his method mostly involved retaliation.

And Ozpin fighting Hazel obviously did not help because it only served to anger him further. But did you know what actually worked for a short time and actually got Hazel to pause his rampage, even if it was only for a few ticks?

Oscar talking to him. I’m not saying that if Oscar had continued talking to Hazel, he would’ve stopped trying to kill him. As Ozpin so rightfully said, Hazel is too far gone in his vengeance that he is beyond verbal reasoning.

But the fact that the hulking man actually did stop to consider what Oscar was saying to him, even for a few seconds needs to be recognized. The entire time Oscar was in control, he spent it talking to Hazel. The boy tried his best to rationalize with the man. He tried to use only words as his weapon, not violence.

Doesn’t that remind you of another young huntsman who did the exact same thing with another irrational adult in an earlier episode?

Oh the parallels!

Even now with Hazel, despite the fact that Ozpin warned him not to get involved, Oscar still was determined to help in his own way because he sees Ozpin as someone he wants to stick up for. Anyone else smiled when Oscar asked Ozpin why Hazel is upset with them?

‘...Why is he so upset with us?’ is what Oscar asked Ozpin. Noticed how he said ‘us’ meaning him and Ozpin instead of ‘you’ as in Oz alone. I love how Oscar is starting to acknowledge that both he and Ozpin are a unit. This is such an interesting development from when he first started off in Volume 4 and didn’t want to have anything to do with Ozpin. Heck, there was even a point where Oscar tried ignoring Ozpin and wanted to pretend like he didn’t exist in his head.

Now look at him. Oscar’s whole demeanour towards Ozpin and overall acceptance of his profound responsibility as his incarnate has evolved so much.

He was so reluctant at first. Now he’s willing to do everything in his power to defend Ozpin (and by extension himself) cause he has fully accepted his role to become the next ‘Ozpin’, willingly inheriting all the majesties of the magic and all the burdens of the pains that come with it. I am both scared and happy about this interesting new shift in Oscar’s character. Wished we had actually gotten to see more scenes showcasing Oscar growing into this frame of mind but I’m afraid that boat’s already sailed episodes ago. For now I’m mostly just happy and currently satisfied because I’m just so proud of my gentle freckly avocado’s character growth and this squiggle meister cannot wait to see his semblance.

Also notice how really headstrong Oscar is too. Usually stubborn characters in shows can come off as very annoying if poorly written but thus far; I quite fondly appreciate Oscar’s stubborn side.

It helps that he’s that way for the right reasons, though. But it certainly doesn’t help defend my biasness towards Oscar when he looks even more adorable when he’s being all belligerent to protect the ones he cares about.

 How is it even possible for one animated CGI character to look so adorable even when he’s being unreasonable? Such a stubborn lil avocado but damn does he look good either way. Not sorry.

Is stubbornness always a good trait? No. Will it get Oscar in trouble from time to time? Yes.

But it suits him and having a mental/mind based power would also match that side of his personality. I have voiced my need for Oscar to have a mind semblance too many times. I’ve said time and time again this needs to be legit.

I think Oscar will be the one to aid Hazel with his redemption. I don’t want to think that Hazel is just a one off villain or even character. If there are any characters on Team WTCH who I can see being redeemed, Hazel is one of them.

Even his deep hatred towards Ozpin is justifiable because at its core, Hazel is no more than just a pained man grieving the loss of his sister and possibly only family who knows no other way to deal with it than vengeance.

I don’t know what promises Salem made to Hazel if he helped her succeed in stopping Ozpin.

As a matter of fact, now that I know why Hazel despises Ozpin, it brings his whole motive for working with Salem into question. Yeah sure, you can say that his entire reason would be cause, he hates Ozpin cause he blames him entirely for his sister’s death. Salem hates Ozpin and wants him dead so hey, we both hate the same person so why don’t we work together? When did Team WTCH become the Mean Girls of Remnant? But here’s the thing. Gretchen became a huntress. The huntsmen are warriors trained to fight the Grimm. If Gretchen died during a training mission, obviously she must’ve been killed during or as a result of a Grimm attack.

So my comment to Hazel is...you wanna kill the man who, yes, sent your sister on a mission to stop Grimm but was also training her to stop them so they wouldn’t kill other people and yet here you are, working with the very lady who literally grow the Grimm in her backyard like Chia Pets. I dare you to find the logic in that.

Oh Hazel, your retribution had clouded your judgement and made you f***ing stupid!

Clearly Hazel is on the wrong side, given what his true motives are and I’m honestly hoping that Oscar will be the one to help him see the truth in that; if not with words then with the use of his semblance.

Really hoping for that mind-semblance with Oscar. Since brute force isn’t enough to stop the tyrannical Hazel then maybe a deep dive into his mind will. I can really see Oscar pulling a Miss Martian from Young Justice Invasion and Professor X from X-Men, ambushing Hazel’s mind as a result of his semblance.

Oscar using his semblance for the first time to put a stop to Hazel is the only sure fire way I can see this fight concluding. It has to be Oscar and no other character to stop Hazel for this season otherwise what’s the symbolism or connection if it isn’t him.

You can’t have Hazel meet Oscar, share a history with Ozpin (and Oscar by association), then have Hazel fight Oscar then Ozpin, only for their duel to end with Hazel being defeated by...Ruby or someone more irrelevant like, Sun Wukong showing up with Blake.

No! That will result in blatant plot inconsistency along with more angry obscene language from me. Why establish this connection between Hazel, Ozpin and Oscar earlier on if the intention wasn’t to have Oscar be the one to bring the hulking man to submission.

The perfect icing to his cake would be for Oscar to unlock his semblance as a result of Hazel harming someone he cares deeply about like Ruby and that’s what finally brings Hazel crumpling to his knees. For more flavour, add an earlier scene with Ozpin/Oscar showcasing one of the tricks to his cane to fight Hazel before being overpowered and relinquishing control back to Oscar.

My money’s on that. I’m actually curious to know if the CRWBY made the conclusion of Hazel and Oscar’s fight more of the focus for Chapter 13, saving the Brawl of the Maidens and the inevitable arrival of Blake and the Faunus Calvary for the epic season finale climax or at least as a teaser for either the start or the end of the thirteenth episode. I actually wouldn’t mind that as I do believe the Hazel and Oscar/Ozpin fight deserves to be an episode focus in order to give its finish that nice satisfying punch I think it deserves. Like placing a blow on a perfectly wrapped gift.   But I guess we’ll only know once Chapter 13 arrives and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into this upcoming episode.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2018)