#when everybody else a) 'died' b) defected c) was broken-hearted

[onewomancitadel]

Something else I was musing on re: consistent symbolic language in R/WBY, referring to Jung and alchemy et al., is that Qrow in particular is (ostensibly) associated with chthonic imagery (the crow, bad luck) but he is most prominently a nurturing and protective figure. Like, his introduction in the story (in V2, when Yang tells Blake about him rescuing her and Ruby) is literally as a protective figure filling in where Tai is unable to; in V4 he's protecting the kids without them knowing; relatedly he's the father figure Ruby rebels against in V6. He is basically repeated over and over to be a Daddy In All But Name (pleazzzz don't come at me with crazy fantheories since I'm just describing his role in the story and the way family dynamics are nuanced).

Which basically goes against his corvid posturing because he thinkssss he's bad luck, but it's his intentions and motivations and care that matter. There is dual imagery to every character across the story, but if you want to simplistically say that Qrow = crow = death (when he literally averts Mentor Death Flags in V4) then it's shortsighted and simplistic. It has to be read on the terms of what the story is thematically/tonally interested in where it is being playful with this kind of thing.

It's why you can't take basic symbolism and leap to really wild conclusions. Not that I've read such things about Cinder before and I've had a chip on my shoulder since or anything.