#whitley is so fun i need to do more with him i think

[stellarfoam]

Relationships: Whitley Schnee/Ruby Rose, Whitley Schnee & Neon Katt & Flynt Coal

Tags: Modern AU, Pre-Relationship, Pining, Childhood Friends, Meet-cute, College Graduation Party

Whitley is hosting his college graduation party in his apartment. He invited Weiss, of course, and shared high school friends, but he didn't expect any of them to show up. He didn't expect Ruby to make herself at home in his kitchen. He definitely didn't expect her to remember him. And he certainly didn't expect those old, inconvenient feelings to come roaring back to life. Written for RWBY Rarepair Exchange 2024! ---- Whitley makes a point to be the life of any party he hosts, and a scintillating conversation partner for any event he graces. He is charming, refined, and occasionally magnanimous. He does not take breaks, especially not for something held in his honor. Ruby does not listen to his explanation, and her grip is far stronger than expected for a person of her stature as she steers him into the kitchen.

@rwbyrarepairexchange

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Ruby: MMmm-MH! Goooood Morning Yang!

Yang: *Brushing Teeth* M'rn Rbs!

Ruby: You're up bright and early. What's up?

Yang: *Spits in sink* Me and Blakey got a whole day planned-*Gargling & Swishing Mouthwash, Spits* We're gonna go for a walk in the park to get some pictures taken and do a little window shopping, then we're meeting up with her parents for lunch!

Ruby: You've got a whole day planned, Huh! Is there something special about to ... day ...

Ruby checks the calender - wednesday, Febuary 14th.

Valentines day

Ruby: Nonono! Not now! I haven't prepared!

Yang: Sorry Rubes! I gotta get dressed, so unless you wanna see me naked again, you should-

Ruby: I'm going, I'm going!

~~~~~

Ruby: Hey Weiss! Blake and Yang are busy-

Weiss: I have Dates planned Ruby! I'm afraid I can't help you.

Ruby: With- I'm sorry did you say 'Dates' as in Dates Plural?

Weiss: Yes I did.

Ruby: Isn't that kind of-

Penny: Salutations Ruby! I am here to see My Valentines for the day!

Ruby: Penny? You're going out with Weiss?

Jaune: I am too! We're going to be switching on and off throughout the day!

Ruby: What.

Penny: Knowing that you identify as 'Asexual' I inquired what romance felt like to Weiss, who was on her way to ask Jaune on a 'date.' Jaune brought up how Polyamorous relationships were uncommon but plausible, so Weiss agreed to spend her time with us both!

Ruby: ... Oh.

Weiss: Yes, and I still need to finish readying up! Please leave so that I may Dress!

~~~~~

Loud Thumping and groaning may be heard behind Ren and Nora's Door, along with slapping sounds.

Ruby: I dunno why I thought they'd be doing anything else.

~~~~~

Oscar: Hey Ruby! What're you up to?

Ruby: Finding you! Everyone else is busy with Valentines, so I figured "hey, Oscar hasn't seemed interested in anyone, and he know what romance is" so I looked for you so we could have a Totally Platonic hangout. Which, for Valentines day would be weird-

Whitley: *Barging in* Hello my Evergreen~ I brought Cinnamon raisin Oatmeal cookies for my most sweet of sweets~

Oscar: Uuuhh ... Sorry Ruby, I'm kinda busy?

Ruby: ￣へ￣

~~~~~

Ruby: *Knocking on Door* HEY UNCLE QROW!

Robyn: *Wrapped in a towel* Sorry kid, He's busy in the Bathroom.

Ruby: ... i though him and Clover-

Clover: I'm here Too!

Qrow: I got a big heart Kid! Now leave and let me bathe with these guys, or I'll tell them about your seventh brithday!

Clover: Now that I wanna hear!

Ruby: You wouldn't!

Robyn: *Holding Qrow's hand* He Would.

Ruby: ... Got it. Have a nice time. Please leave a sock on your handle next time this happens!

~~~~~

Ruby: ...

Emerald: How do they feel now?

Mercury: *Rubbing his legs, crying Slightly* They feel Real. They feel like they're back.

Ruby: Well That's sweet.

Emerald: We're trying. I'd talk more but concentration-

Ruby: And Merc seems like he needs you, have a nice day.

~~~~~

Ruby: Hey Winter-

Winter: ...

Cinder: *On Winter's shoulder* ...

Ruby: ... I'll be going.

~~~~~

Ruby: Hey Miss Schnee-

Willow: *sweaty and Flushed* Hello Dear! I'm afraid I don't have much time-

Kali: Willow~ We have time for one more round before me and Ghira need to see our Kitten~

Ruby: Just go-

Willow: I can take a break if you need-

Ruby: I'll be fine, i get it-

Willow: Seriously, If you need something-

Ruby: Thank you, but I'm good, all good, go have your fun-

~~~~~

TaiYang: Hey! You've reached the Personal Scroll of Taiyang Xiao Long! At the moment I am pounding someone's ass right now, and Can't reach you! PLease leave a message at the Tone!

Ruby: *Hangs up* Safe to assume that's where Raven is.

~~~~~

Ruby: ... Hey? Hey Torchwick!

Roman: *Sitting at a table at a cafe* Little Red, I'm not in the mood for any of our games today.

Ruby: What do you mean?

Roman: Look, Neo's a free spirit, and on today of all days, she's reveling in Warm bodies rather than cold blood, leaving little ol' me out to dry, just cause the way I get down and Dirty is only ever stylish not sexy.

Ruby: ... yeah, I get that. Everyone I can think of is either being horny or romantic. It's annoying.

Roman: Oh-ho-ho! It seems the little nightmare for all the criminals in Vale is and Ace of Spades, huh?

Ruby: Well ... *Unfurling Crescent Rose as she takes a seat* Wrong Farm tool, but yeah, my flags fly white, gray, Green and Purple.

Roman: ... how about truce for today? I get the feeling if we stay out of each other's trouble our friends and family can have a nice day.

Ruby: No assault, theft from Mom and Pop shops, no murders, no trafficking and no destruction of property.

Roman: ... take off destruction of property.

Ruby: Hostile architecture only.

Roman: *Extending his hand* Deal.

Ruby: *shaking his hand* Sweet.

[thatrandomartistjavi]

oooh can you tell me what are your aus about?

Sure!

Ride the Cyclone AU:

This one is pretty self explanatory. It’s Ride the Cyclone but with MHTP characters. We have Betty as Karnak, Queen as Ocean, Rabbit as Constance, Hatter as Mischa, Hare as Noel, Ernest as Ricky, and Cheshire as Jane Doe

Fun extra one but Dormouse is Virgil

Reincarnation AU:

This one is an AU where Wonderland like in the book is real and that the MHTP characters are like the reincarnated versions of the book characters. Not just that but most people can kinda feel in their soul when they knew someone in another life even tho most aren’t aware that that’s what that feeling is. People also dream about their past life

This one is very Chandersson centric(but most of my AUs are). This one goes well with soulmate au too but yeah. Mouse and Cheshire both die horrifically but they get to be together as Ernest and Barkley

Another neat fact is that before Cheshire died, he gave the pig baby to Hatter for him to care for. Pig baby reincarnates as Barkley’s little brother, Francisco, and when he meets Harmony(Hatter) for the first time almost automatically thinks Dad? Tho he never voices that thought

Less than neat fact, You’re Just a Fool is now more terrifying for Ernest since Rosabella(Queen) is the one who killed him as Mouse

The adults grow up together AU:

This one is also kinda self explanatory. Basically all the main characters(except for the Tweedles and Alice) all are in the same town and grow up together as friends. This is the only AU that is in the MHTP universe that doesn’t have them end up in Ladrington Brooke at some point since they all had each other as support

It doesn’t mean that none of them developed their mental illnesses like Rosabella and Barkley were kinda unavoidable since they both grew up in abusive homes(Barkley is more hc than canon but shhhhh) but they are better off since they have friends to be there and places where they can run off to

Ernest’s depression isn’t as intense because he has friends(where in my hc, he had none) and Whitley(Rabbit) has people other than Rosabella to go to so his OCD is more manageable.

Chandersson will always be real so they got together in high school and stuck ever since

Reverse AU:

This one isn’t complicated but it’s hard for me to explain

It’s not a reverse AU where personalities switch and they also don’t switch mental illnesses. Everyone keeps their disorders it’s more role that reverses and also order in which they present their stuff

So Alice and the Tweedles switch where Alice is first and has a more fun song in which they play pretend while Tweedles go after Hare and actually talk about the PTSD

Hare and Rabbit switch and I honestly don’t know how their songs would change. Rabbit’s would go before Hatter’s song

The second most interesting change is Hatter and Queen so now Queen is the leader of the group instead of Hatter and she goes last. Hatter’s song is now more going You need to understand, I’m not like what you think but it actually works because he isn’t using his illness to excuse being an abusive asshole to his friends while Queen is now more like a Let me tell you a tale like how Dapper Hatter is. Queen is much nicer and not abusive and enjoying it like in the show. She is much more stern unlike Hatter but ultimately is trying her best to put the others first even if sometimes she has a hard time controlling her temper

And the most interesting change which is Cheshire and Ernest switching roles so now Cheshire is the doctor and Ernest is the patient. Idk how their songs would work but I do know that Cheshire’s own Ernest in Ernest type moment would be triggered by Queen doing her banshee screech of rage. Ernest is less in the There’s nothing wrong with me even tho that would fit and more like I know there’s smth wrong but I don’t want to talk about it while Cheshire genuinely doesn’t know and gets the realization that he isn’t actually as normal as he thought he was in the harshest way possible(the most intense CPTSD flashback you’ve ever seen). Since Ernest never became a psychotherapist, he is a science teacher.

And before you get hyped, no Cheshire doesn’t wear the Queen’s clothes like how Ernest does. I just

Can’t see him doing that. I hate Act 2 as a whole so most things from Act 2 wouldn’t be the same

[kitkatopinions]

Does Whitley have potential or is he an extra Schnee?

I think Whitley had and has a lot of potential, actually!

One of the most interesting things about Weiss is her connection to her family, which I think deserves more focus and exploring, and Whitley is obviously a big part of that. I find it fascinating how the environment Weiss and Whitley were raised in made them react in completely different ways - Whitley with putting up a mask of casual indifference (airing on cheeriness) and leaning into what was expected of him while clearly showing in volume eight that it isn't just how he naturally is, and Weiss with anger and mimicking Winter and desperately trying to get away from it. I think exploring both Weiss and Whitley as abuse victims would really speak to the fact that reactions to abuse takes all sorts of forms and are no less sympathetic.

Exploring Weiss's dynamic with Winter and Whitley more, I think, would help to expand on Weiss's character and give her a stronger arc (since she hasn't seemed to have a personal arc in volumes and even in V7 seemed to not get the attention she deserved.) Going into V10 (if we get a V10) the Schnees are going to be all of a sudden pretty much penniless, with no home, in a kingdom that should by all rights be very hesitant to accept them. If Weiss isn't concerned with helping specifically Whitley (not because he's more important to Weiss or to the narrative than Winter but because he's an auraless untrained teenage civilian) than it'd seem like a bit of a blow against her character tbh. And it could lead to some great conflicts not only surrounding Weiss and Whitley making an effort to understand each other better and get to know each other more after years of icing each other out, but might also create conflicts with the rest of Weiss's team who might perceive Weiss focusing more on her family than on important issues.

On top of that, Whitley could serve very effectively as a demonstration that not everyone needs to be a Hunter or fighter or have a semblance in order to be helpful and good. In V8, Whitley proofed to be smart, kind, and brave. He could be the sort of person to be doing things on computers while talking to Team RWBY and co over comms in their ears. Whitley could be incredibly useful in that way, and it would be so much fun to see the team acclimatizing to a new person more or less being brought in, into a new role they're not used to having around. It'd be a nice change, also something that RWBY could use.

And on top of on top of that is the fact that Oscar and Ruby both having this new friend that's more their age and is super different from both of them but could get along with both of them (and could be shipped with either of them) is a good thing too that could be good and worth exploring. And also on top of both of those things, the classic 'villains use a loved one to threaten their enemies' thing can't be easily done in this show where everybody is basically a superhero, but auraless teenage civilian Whitley provides an excellent opportunity for that.

Basically, Whitley has tons of potential as a character going forward from here, and I do hope that he stays involved and even gets more involved (so long as there's also plenty of proper focus given to the mains obviously.) Do I think that any of this potential will actually be realized? No. I think Whitley will pretty much just be treated like an extra Schnee, and the most we'll see of him if we ever get more RWBY is like two very bit parts of scenes where Willow has like a hand on his shoulder or something and that's it. The show can't have make the mains reach a quarter of their full potential, so there's very little hope for my baby boy Whitley. But I think he could be a great, amazing, involved character.

[howlingday]

The One With The Insecurities

Blake: I have a question. Of everyone here, who would you consider dating?

Ruby: Who would you pick?

Blake: Honestly? I wouldn't mind dating Yang again.

Yang: Aw! Thanks, Blakey! But if it's someone other than you, then I don't know.

Ruby: Yeah, me neither.

Nora: Ruby.

Blake: ...

Yang: (Visibly shaking)

Ruby: ...Huh?

Nora: ...I don't know. Me neither.

Blake: (Scroll buzzes) I gotta go. That's Sun needing help with his "pet project".

Nora: You mean his boy band?

Blake: I'm coping with his decision my way. (Leaves)

Nora: Alright! Just us now! What do you guys wanna do?

Yang: I, uh... I gotta go to the bathroom.

Nora: Alright, well, I guess we'll just wait 'til you get back.

Yang: Yup, yup, yup! (Walks into bathroom, Muffled) FUCK!.

Nora: ...

Ruby: ...

Yang: (Pokes her head out) Uh, we're out of hand soap. (Re-enters)

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

Yang: HEY~!

Ruby: Oh, you're back!

Nora: Really had to go, huh?

Yang: HAHAHAHA! Back and forth you two! Yeah, you two sure do make a cute couple, don't you?

Nora: Uh... What?

Ruby: Yang, you were in there for an hour. Are you okay?

Yang: Yeah! Yeah! I'm just fine! Just peachy! Just havin' fun like we were earlier! You know, when you picked my sister over me? HA! Wasn't that funny?

Nora: Eh, yeah, I guess it was kinda funny-

Yang: NO, IT WASN'T! Why would you do that?! Why wouldn't you pick me?!

Nora: ...

Nora: ...Alright. You asked for it. I picked Ruby over, by just a teeny, TINY bit over you because you act like a party girl, but you're just a little controlling for me! Okay, who wants lunch?

Yang: I am not controlling! And you are not going to lunch until you tell me what makes me so controlling! Then we're going to sit down and discuss it, even if it takes all night!

Nora: ...Yeah, no, I was totally wrong. There's NO WAY you're not chill and laid-back. You're just not AS laid-back as Ruby. She's just more flexible and mellow!

Ruby: ...W-Well, I mean, people are different, right?

Nora: Yeah, Ruby is always willing to do whatever you want! You can just walk all over her!

Ruby: W-What?! Are you saying I'm a pushover?! I'm not a pushover!

Nora: Aw, it's okay, Ruby~! You're not a pushover~!

Ruby: You think I'm a pushover! Well, watch this! I'm going to lunch with my sister WITHOUT YOU! How's that for being a pushover?! (Walks out)

Yang: (Points) And clean this place up, too! (Walks out)

Yang: (Huffs) So, where are we eating?

Ruby: Hm... Ooh! How about that sandwich shop downtown?

Yang: Ugh! No! That place has moldy bread. We're going to the noodle place next door.

Ruby: Okay, Yang. Whatever you want.

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

Ruby: Nora! We have something to say to you!

Nora: ...Okay?

Yang: Okay, so maybe I am a little controlling. And maybe Ruby is a bit of a pushover, but that's okay. Because we know what you are.

Ruby: Mhm! Yup! Sorry to tell you this but you... are flaky!

Yang: HA!

Nora: ...Huh. Yeah, I guess I am flaky!

Yang: ...

Ruby: ...So you're just okay with being flaky?

Nora: Yeah, it sounds right to me.

Yang: Fine! Then I'm okay with being controlling!

Ruby: Yeah, and I'm okay with being a pushover!

Nora: That's great! Good for you guys!

Yang: ...I AM NOT CONTROLLING!

Ruby: I AM NOT A PUSHOVER!

Nora: WHO SAID YOU WERE?!

RY: YOU DID!

Nora: Oh, I'm flaky! I'll say anything!

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

Sun: Thanks for helping out, Blake.

Blake: No problem. Things were getting boring, anyways, so I came up with a dumb question to kill time.

Sun: What was it?

Blake: I asked the girls out of the four of us, who would they date?

Sun: Who'd you pick?

Blake: Yang.

Sun: Yeah, I figured. I would've picked Neptune.

Blake: Hm, I figured, too.

Sun: Let me try. Hey, guys!

Jaune: Yeah?

Sun: If you had to pick a dude here, who would it be?

Whitley: I can't answer that.

Jaune: Me neither.

Ren: Jaune. (Everyone stares at him) Er, I meant to say, I can't answer that. Me neither.

[pokespefangirl]

(For the Pokéstar Studios AU)

Hey this is the same anon, I'm super happy that you liked the idea! Sincerely, I am extremely stoked, thank you so much!

This concept has been running through my mind nonstop ever since that ask and I have a few more ideas. Not to pressure you to add this in the fic or force these ideas on you, yet again I'm just having fun sharing these.

Anyways, Blake and Black brother-in-law moments REAL?! Whitley and White sister-in-law moments TRUE!? Ugh i'm eating up these hypothetical scenarios.

White most likely assigns Black to be Blake's bodyguard whenever he decides to go out, since he has celebrity status and all. The same thing goes for Whitley, though I see Blake accompanying her a lot too. So Black has to thirdwheel, not knowing it's Blake enacting vengeance for all those time he was the thirdwheel when it was just White, Black, and him at the BW Agency.

Also more of how I think Blake would be as an actor, though in this scenario he never received super spy training, he probably got super intense media training from White. They're both coming up with insane, genius, absolutely unhinged strategies to manipulate the media, Light Yagami monologuing typa bamboozlery. And Whitley and Black are just having a pleasant chat, side eyeing them every thirty seconds or so.

I imagine Blake's acting style to be refined, perfect, infallible that it's almost too much. Since he doesn't understand emotions, he studies, studies, studies, and studies. Writing down what his character would do, analyzing every line of dialogue, down to the body language and speech patterns etcetera. That's how he's able to nail so many different characters. AKA Christian Bale ahh acting style.

Now for Whitley, she's the opposite, she's new and unrefined, full of flaws. But full of emotion, her performances reaches out and captures. Delivering the feel needed for the scene and character.

And it really fascinates Blake, how she's so in tune with her emotions, making him kinda obsessed with her reactions...

That's it for now, I haven't even touched the surface for Blake and White's sibling dynamic but I sort of don't want this to be novel-length. Yet again, I am so happy that you accepted that ask! I really look forward to what you're cooking up, take as much time as you need!

Lil Bonus:

Blake: *trying to spook/fluster Whitley* Great job on set, your acting needs a little more work but you've got potential.

Whitley: Oh! Um, thanks...

Blake: You should learn how to be more confident, we don't want people to think you're easy to take advantage of...those rumors in Pokéwood are not to be taken lightly. *attempts to rizz* don't worry I'll-

Whitley: OH NO, w-were you a victim!?

Blake: Wh-what of course not-

White: *Bonks him on the head* Of course not! I made SURE that never happened to him, and I will DEFINITELY do the same for you!

ANON YOU ARE DRIVING ME ABSOLUTELY CRAZY W HAPPINESS W ALL OF THESE GREAT FANTASTIC Amazing Awonderf IDEAS, OFC I NEED TO ADD ALL OF THEM NOW <3 NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL SOON SO I'LL ADD MORE LATER BUT FOR NOW I WAS THINKING

Blake is studying Whitley right?!!! Almost out of a curiosity as to how she feels and experiences all these emotions?? So naturally!! Especially her beautiful eyes that get teary whenever shes thinking about something sad! He could study her all day!!

To add to that: Blake never had pets or cared for animals bcs you know... sociopath and all, but he starts seeing Whitley feeding a stray cat!! ANd EVENTUALLY (WHEN THERES SOME ANGST POINT) HE STARTS FEEDING THE LITTLE KITTEN HIMSELF just from seeing Whitley when he's walking by all alone!!

And you're so right he'd craft his image with the convoluted intelligence of Light Fucking Yagami lmaoo that's so good!!

AND UK WHITE IS THE MOST AMBITIOUS GIRL LIKE SHE'S MAKING SURE BLAKE IS TOPPING ALL THE RATINGS AWARDS WHATEVE, BUT her YOUNGER BRO ALSO ANNOYS HER SOMETIMES W HIS HEINOUS SOCIOPATHY AND SHE HAS TO DO DAMAGE CONTROL LMAOO (mostly it's him being with all sorts of ladies before being w Whitley and unintentionally breaking their hearts cus they didn't interest him for too long)

AND BLACK IS SUCH A FIERCE BODYGUARD BUT ALSO WHOLESOME!! LIKE HE WILL KILL FOR HIS BROTHER IN LAW!! BUT OFC OFC HE'LL GIVE THE FANS FREE FOOD AND GIFT BASKETS ON HIS BEHALF TOO AND HELP THE FANS GET BLAKE'S AUTOGRAPH especially he'll help anybody whose disabled bcs it's the right thing to do!! God he's so good

so yeah Whitley!! Whitley is pure!! Unfiltered!! And blake doesn't know what that's like aside from his family everybody else in Hollywood tend to be shallow and judgemental and fake!! But Whitley s not afraid to cry, to smile, to laugh, she's not afraid of what ppl think and guess what!! Blake needs that bcs he's been hiding his sociopathy all along! Bcs his career would be over if anybody revealed his diagnoses!!

Initially it started out as fun that he studied Whitley and tried to get emotions out of her!! Initially he just joked she was becoming an addiction! Just something to have!! But then things started to get real and he began to experience!!

Something big!! Something else!! Nobody had ever kept him that interested in his life!! Jumping from person to person!! Director to Director!! Everybody was fed up with him but then came in Whitley!! And this man just cannot let her go!!

And ya know Black is ready to defend his whole family!! He's outside of his work hours still doing his job cus that's what he should do!! Is Prez okay?? Where should we go next?? Lemme be with you Prez i cant risk anything happening to u not on my watch imma be the best bodyguard ever!! And Blake's just standing there like- "Bet"

ANYWAYS I SAID I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME BUT I GUESS I HAD TO RESPOND HAHAHA, thank you so much this whole au and concept is honestly making my day and i can't wait to finish it!!

[pyx3l]

| i. A Fleeting Sense.

“𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑠 𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑠 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑, 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑧𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒.”

Michael Imani Aldene & Whitley Clarke Reeves.

A long night had pursued the two men, as they’d hopped from bar to bar, restaurant after restaurant, even opting for a coffee somewhere along the way. All in good fun, showing each other the little places they’d found and enjoyed. The night was ending, and Whitley seemed to be hinting he wanted to walk Michael home. That in itself was a problem. Allowing him into his apartment would be allowing him into his life, to see his secret. Michael wasn’t well off, as fancy-lived as his aura, his taste in fashion persuaded. 

It was a dumpy studio in the slums, the cheapest that Michael could work with. He’d managed to make it look nice, sure, but that part of the city was swallowed in bad reputation. Mostly for drugs and thieves, there were hostiles and the like that found refuge in this corner. Michael was no better, his residence would only prove that further. Since he was alone, he never minded to clean up, and he couldn’t allow himself to admit his addiction to Whitley. Not yet, anyway. Michael wasn’t sure if Whitley was just a fleeting moment, or if he was here to stay. 

“Let’s stop here for a sec,” Michael said, stopping in his tracks. He gave a click glance to Whitley, and pressed over to the railing of the bridge they were crossing. 

His heart was racing, he didn’t want to go any further, he couldn’t make himself. Michael fidgeting with his hands in his coat pocket, pulling out his pack of cigarettes. Passing one to Whitley who’s artisan figure leaned over the guard rail, and pressing one in between his own lips. Whitley was quick to be of service, and pressed his notable zippo lighter he’d always kept in the chest pocket of his blazers. Politely he lit Michael’s first and shortly after his own. For a while it was just quiet, but they seemed to have found solace in that. Michael was thinking of how to break the silence and evade taking Whitley home. As much as he needed to, he didn’t really want to. He was actually beginning to like Whitley, in more ways than he could have imagined. 

It felt like he had been staring at the shifting water of the river below them forever now, most of his cigarette burnt up, but he took a few more hits before throwing it into the water and turning to face Whitley. He eyed him slowly before narrowing them, and exhaling the last bit of smoke. 

“What’s your angle?” Michael asked finally. 

“My angle? I don’t have an angle,” Whitley dragged on the remaining cigarette slowly and turned his head toward Michael. He gave a faint smile. Both his arms were propped up on the rail, using the free one to push his glasses up delicately. 

Michael’s face went plain, flicking the cigarette from Whitley’s hand and grabbing it so they’d face each other body to body. He looked up at him, and made clear that he was to be taken seriously. 

“What do you want from me? You’ve been dragging me around this city for weeks, I woke up in your apartment on the first night. You pretend like nothing happened, and,” Michael stopped, letting go of the man's arm. 

Finally his gaze broke away and he looked down and scratched at his neck nervously. Whitley’s index finger trailed the jawline of Michael’s face before stopping at his chin and lifting his head up. After the eye contact was reassured once more, both his hands pressed carefully but tightly on both Michael’s arms. 

“I want nothing more than to know you. Do you not remember the first night?” Whitley pouted as he noted the expression he was leaving on the other person's face. It came to realization, Michael *didn’t* know what happened. 

“I didn’t sleep with you,” he said softly. “After you showed me the rooftop of that place to watch the sun rise, we stopped to catch a bus. I wasn’t going to take you home, but you fell asleep at the bench and I didn’t know your address,” Whitley explained, and wanted to explain more. But he had stopped himself, worried that Michael might not believe him. “I didn’t want to leave you on the bench. It gets cold at night. And you have a pretty snore,” Whitley made light, and moved his hand to palm the side of Michael’s face lovingly. 

He watched as the man leaned into the touch, before pushing back and frowning. Michael didn’t know what to think, how to feel, he just needed space. Whitley’s hand clinged onto Michael’s wrist delicately, as an attempt to keep in distance. 

“Mia, if what you’re wanting is for me to confess my feelings, tell me. I like you, but I don’t want to rush that,” Whitley commented one last time, pulling his hand back as Michael threw his hand into his hair and shook his head. 

“I don’t know, Whitley. You don’t know me, I don’t know you. I need to think, please.” Michael whined, and shifted in stance. It was killing him. Whitley didn’t even know his real name, and Michael was just embracing the façade. 

“I want to know you,” he said softly, watching as his company began to leave. Whitley knew not to pursue, he’d give the man his time to think. If Michael wanted what Whitley was offering, they had already exchanged numbers, and Michael knew the spots he frequented. 

Writer's Notes:

(be nice this is my first time publicly posting my own writing when not roleplaying.) Michael is like one of my first ever ocs... so being able to share some writing I've had racked in my brain for him for 7+ years so exciting. I hope u guys enjoy sad gay shit as much as i do. 2/21/2023, 5:10am ~ Pyx <3

[brw]

thoughts on the new Wasp issue? The whole thing where they were in a world where hank never existed was pretty interesting or could've been I think & nadia having to become an assassin instead of being able to evade it due to them wanting her to work on her father's research makes sense kind of except that it's weird she didn't try to escape? idk it's not like anyone else broke her out or redeemed her or anything so it's a little weird. The thing with janet I did not like because her wanting to avenge her father's death makes sense & she found a way to do it without becoming the wasp (weird thing to happen in the only solo series she has though) which is realistic but the avengers being "a group of operatives who are specialists in their respective fields" doesn't really capture the magic of how they assembled in the first place to me... also what do you think janet is a specialist in? also what did the hulk specialise in lol? I also don't like ewing's voice for janet.

hi anon!

i think it's a marked improvement from the first two issues but i won't lie, i'm still not convinced. there's two major problems i have with it so far; first of all, it feels incredibly drawn out n poorly paced. we have one issue left and i still feel like the conflict is yet to actually happen in the comic, which is suprising considering how well-paced the rest of ewing's projects are, even just thinking about storm and the brotherhood which came out on the same day but especially compared to ant-man. it's possible the final issue will change my mind, but it so far feels like something that could have been done in two issues and probably would have been better off for it.

second; this isn't a janet book, simple as. it would not surprise me in the slightest if i found out that this was originally a vague plot for nadia, and then ewing awkwardly placed janet in it afterwards when marvel asked him for a sister series to ant-man. janet has not done anything interesting and i have learned literally nothing new of her character so far, except that apparently she is smart enough to sort out the whole alien thing on her own without hank n without being the wasp. i guess.

i guess i'm just missing what made the ant-man series fun. i'm not expecting a clone, but the shifting tones between the classic 60s vibe and more contemporary comics and the sleaziness of early 2000s comics really suited the tone and made me think a lot about how hank and the legacy of ant-man has changed over the years. janet's missing all of that fun vibe, and it just doesn't feel like the kind of homage to janet van dyne and the wasp mantle you would expect from an anniversary issue. it feels like a forgotten arc of the jeremy whitley unstoppable wasp run.

anyway nadia as an assassin was fun, n made sense! her not having someone to look up to and make her inspired to be heroic and becoming a star assassin is a fun beat, it's interesting that without that she never tried to leave but i suppose it makes sense. janet as "the avenger" is interesting, but i'll be honest i'm still waiting on janet to feel like janet. there's no reason why without hank she would stop being fun and flirty and a bit of an adrenaline junkie. like, in avengers origins: ant-man and the wasp she feels like a distinct person, but those traits are still there. i dunno.

anyway i hope the last issue is good, but i really do feel the pacing is off and the characterisation of janet especially feels a bit weird. it's not that he can't write janet; issue one of ant-man jan was great! it's just that it feels like in a need to show janet is mature and an adult he's squeezed a lot of her out n i'm not vibing with it unfortunately :(

(also this might sound awful of me to say but i think janet would have been more likely to become a villain without hank, because it's really on the avengers as a team member where she learns a sense of responsibility and maturity IMO. her father dying gave her a sense of injustice, but if you ask me it's growing as a team where she really grows as a person. before then she's very much so still a privileged upper class girl with an adrenaline problem, and i can't help but think it would be both fun and make sense for her to be a campy fashion themed supervillain. but that's just me)

[swapauanon]

My Opinions on RWBY: Ice Queendom: Chapter 10: Mirror of Darkness

I love all the subtle reminders of the fact that Ruby's carrying her own Nightmare inside her as this is going on, it helps convey how much of a disadvantage she's fighting at.

I like how they have Negative Blake airing some very GENUINE grievances, as Blake does have GENUINE reasons to be wary of humanity and the Schnees, but because those grievances are being filtered through ADAM'S personality, she's a lot more confrontational about it in a "Let's burn it all down!" sense.

Which is WEIRDLY useful in this context, but I don't think that'll be all that useful when she's not pointed at something that NEEDS to be burned down.

(I also get the feeling that Arryn Zech was having WAY too much fun recording those lines. I don't mean that in a bad way.)

Also... Why the heck did Yang act like she was recognizing who Blake had transformed into? She's not met Adam yet. I don't think she's even seen Blake's sketches of him.

But back on track, the real Weiss shining through and recognizing how out of character Blake is being was also great, but it's unfortunately filtered through Negative Weiss' warped version of her personality, so it comes across as WAY more demeaning than the real Weiss would ever be.

Yang 1v1ing the Big Nicholas Mech is a great moment for her as well, given she's not gotten a lot of character development due to having the LEAST emotional connections to Weiss out of the main cast. Seriously though, that thing is terrifying.

(So do you think Ruby recognized Whitley as the human form of that bat thing she shot? Did that make interacting with him awkward for her?)

And the Jacques Arma Gigas cornering Jaune by the giant sword was an unexpected cliffhanger to close his part of the fight on.

But the true source of tension was every fight scene where that final relic wasn't safely pocketed where it couldn't be broken. Seriously, that was nerve-wracking, even if it was only directly endangered once or twice.

[laulink]

The fandom is fun because on the one hand it's all "Ice Queendom did such a good job at humanising Whitley so early on, they did more in 3 eps than all of V4 and 7"

While on the other hand, it's all "the characters need to do this, this, this and this RIGHT NOW or they're just pushing it under the rug and we'll never hear about it and it's bad writing !" (for example, the Schnee family getting a heart to heart, especially Weiss and Whitley)

And no one seems to realise (yet) that, had the show even just introduced Whitley in V1, let alone shown his good sides, the fandom would have gone BALLISTIC over him not being on screen/developed for 3 volumes.

Like... People, pacing is a thing, and it exists for a reason. Nice if IQ is gonna use Whitley earlier than the main show, but I don't think you'll keep praising it if it makes you wait 5 seasons to give Whitley development.

[deadletterpoets]

Cass/Batgirls Creative Teams challenge

I'm bored so I decided to give myself a bit of a challenge of picking 3 creative teams I'd want to write a solo Cass that is more in tone with what I love from Batgirl 2000 but for the modern age and 3 creative teams I'd want to write a Batgirls comic that is more in tone with the current Batgirls series that is more "light heart, fun energy, BFFs forever" vibes. Only rule is I can't use the same creative in both list. I'm at work and this is off the top of my head so let's just have fun.

Cass solo:

Mariko Tamaki/Marcus To - This comes straight from the Asian Superhero Celebration comic. Their story together was probably one of the better stories in that anthology and there was a good amount of solid material in that book. To is phenomenal, I've wanted him on a Cass book forever and I hope that wasn't the only time it happens. Tamaki is hit or miss with me in many regards, but I think her Tec run was solid and her writing of Cass has been better than most that have written her since her return so I'd be curious where she'd take her in a solo venture.

Gene Luen Yang/Marcio Takara - I've wanted Yang to write Cass for a while and the energy and quality he's brought to Shang-Chi is something Cass needs in DC IMMEDIATELY. And do I even need to explain Takara I mean Takara is one of the only artists to make the Orphan suit look legit. Now with Cass as Batgirl I NEED Takara back drawing CassBatgirl again cause I've seen Takara CassBatgirl art and I want it in continuity NOW!

Alyssa Wong/Elena Casagrande - I'll admit Wong didn't use to be on my top list for Cass even after she'd written her before. I just wasn't feeling it. However in the couple years since the first time she wrote her Wong has improved a lot as a writer. Namely her Aphra series is pretty great. And also her one shot Shang-Chi and Iron Fist series has shown she can handle the fight scenes needed. Also the next time she wrote Cass in the Urban Legends story with Batwoman was a much higher quality to me and now I'd be curious for more. Casagrande is the main artist from Thompson's Black Widow book and frankly she made that book a must read. Her art was phenomenal, her fight scene paneling was incredible. It was worth reading just to see how cool she was making Natasha look and I want that for Cass.

Batgirls:

Jeremy Whitley/Gurihiru - The creative team from some of the best Unstoppable Wasp issues, need I say more? Yeah? Okay look Whitley is a white boy, yes, but he NAILED the fun energetic teenage/youth tone, that IMO Batgirls is currently failing at, in Unstoppable Wasp. He doesn't belittle the characters involved, nor does he belittle the audience reading it. He would rock a Batgirls book. And just look at the style of Gurihiru to know they would compliment the tone so well.

Sarah Kuhn/ Kelly & Nichole Matthews - Once again I'm bringing in a writer that has already nailed the tone in previous books so Batgirls would be fine. Kuhn has worked in the field of YA for most of her career, I believe, before she even did Shadow of the Batgirl and then SoTB came and she knocked it outta the park so if DC really wants Batgirls to be competing on that level they need someone who is already excelling on that level. The artists are twin sisters and I saw their art in a book called Save Yourself! (which I enjoyed and recommend) and I think their style would compliment the tone of Kuhn very well.

Danny Lore/Luciano Vecchio - Again Lore isn't someone I would've thought of for this a couple years ago, but one book has put Lore on the map for me as someone I want to see more range from at it was their Champions. Champions was basically put in a chokehold during Eve Ewing's run (that I believe made her quit being a comic writer but that's a different conversation) with the whole Outlawed story and Lore basically had to come in and play clean up while also telling their own story and then wrapping it up pretty quick once it got cancelled and you know what? They kinda succeeded. Sure nothing's perfect, but the main thing they did well which I would want most to carry over to Batgirls was the dynamic of the characters involved. Even if a writer isn't perfect for the tone they can salvage a lot just by how they write the characters and Lore showed me they put in the work to get characters right and that's enough for me, for now, to give them a spot on this list. Now because it was Lore's Champions that made me want them, I figure might as well bring in the artist to right? Plus Vecchio work on Ironheart (and he literally just did a Batgirls redesign) I think his style would mesh well with the tone DC wants for Batgirls.

Anyway, that's it. Let me know what you think.

[idance2silence]

Hey RWBY friends

Is there a ship for Ruby, Oscar, and Whitley (and also Penny?)?

I feel like Ruby, Oscar, Penny is pretty common combo of solidarity but I feel like Whitley should be in this corner of the fandom more idk. Smol children with angst. I feel like he fits. Is there a thing with trio or even the four of them? I feel like they'd make the most terrifying team of munckins.

Some thoughts for your consideration:

I feel like the 4 of them would live in a castle together and each of them would claim an area. Or maybe just a really run down mansion away from people. I think they're all pretty famous in cannon and would want space.

Ruby would absolutely build a weapons room and so the place looks Medieval by hanging various weapons on the wall all over the house instead of paintings

Oscar absolutely builds a garden with like the vine arches and it's like a scary maze but there's also a section with a fountain that he repairs. He buys ones of those lawn mowers you can sit on and ride since he misses having a tractor

Penny builds a fancy sound system and they blast the house with metal and rock music (a reason Oscar hides outside sometimes)

Whitley has a bunch of things he inherited that are heirlooms so it only makes the place look more ancient. He takes care of the library and fills ballrooms with ridiculously fancy pianos.

Oscar loves the old vibes it gives the place since some part of his soul is at rest in a place that feels like a haunted house. Haunted house filled with love

They throw ragers on Halloween like it's a haunted house and Ruby is the center of attention by being the evil queen of the galla

They camp in the backyard on nice nights

They watch movies together. Ruby and Penny always end up carrying Oscar and Whitley to bed since they fall asleep first

They hold a fashion show every year but unlike normal shows everyone is required to wear white (and a white mask, like those full face masks not just mouth or eyes). At the end of the runway they drop colored paint powders on you and so it's like live tie dye. They televise the event because they have *wealth* and I just think it's fun

They live by the woods so they can hunt grim together for sport because why not

They all have nightmares so there's a lot of middle of the night hot chocolate parties

Idk just 4 besties living their best lives

I think they all have incredible matchinf rings. It looks like a dragon wrapped around their finger. Each ring has a different gem as the eye and they take turns but they each have a favorite

None of them are really into romance or sex but they all love each other to pieces.

Sometimes they will go behind each other's backs and 3 of them will create a performance to put on for the fourth person.

Oscar is usually the one left to watch and he loves it. Even though he needs the most quiet time out of them they still think about him while giving him space and he appreciates them for it

Whitley becomes obsessed with making Muffins and Oscar is relentless about finding new bizzare recipes to keep things interesting. Penny loves to try new things. Ruby would much rather stick with chocolate Muffins but she finds it amusing to try the ridiculous flavors.

Sometimes Penny goes on the roof to stargaze and they all panic that they've lost her

They hold weekly video game tournaments and it's never dull

Oscar and Penny wake up first and lovingly greet the others with bad jokes about how late they sleep in.

Now I want to write a fic of all of this except the place is haunted because all 4 of them are ghosts and they've lived at home so long there's no reason for them to know they're dead. It doesn't make sense but it doesn't matter. Kids show up to the house in excitement to visit a haunted house and get scared and the 4 of them don't mind because guests are here have good manners. The kids bring gifts as offerings to the spirits and the ghosts have no idea. I think it's fun

It's fun to headcannon this. I see why people do this so often. Fantastic. Anyway, is there a thing for this? If there isnt I think that should change. They all go together so well. Maybe I just need more Whitley content lol

[nerdygirlwithanxiety]

INTRODUCTIONS TIME! :D * I'm more confident now so..*

*slight heads up; I will update this every once in awhile*;

Sup I preferred to be called Anthony or for short "Ant " but of course I'm also known by as Sage, Weiss, and Yosuke to some people.

I prefer to use he/she/they/them pronouns

Surprisingly I get this alot; but I'm actually 23 (will update this when feb.12 comes* years despite by appearance * people have thought I was younger. Yay for being short TwT*

And also I'm a Ravenclaw

My major brainrots/interest are pretty much; Kill La Kill, RWBY, Creeps/Creepypasta, Persona 4/5, and pokemon, And Genshin Impact

Favorite characters from each fandom; Mercury Black/Roman Torchwick/Whitley Schnee * rwby*, Senketsu/Junketsu and Uzu * Kill la kill*, the submas twins, piers, and zerø*pokemon *, Will Grossman *creeps*, Ryuji/Yusuke * both from persona 5*, and Yosuke Hanamura/ Tohru Adachi * both from persona 4*/ Diluc Ragnvindr * , Kaeya Alberich, and Tartaglia * all three in genshin*

Funny enough my favorite character is also Gorduea from underbirth in night. I gotta get the game some point.

I'm a pretty chill person usually always open to geek out with anyone and willing to make friends just please Please dont drag me into drama, it HAS happened and trust me it was..not fun, oh and I cosplay! It's right now my only oc tho ^^;

I do have an oc you can see him in the hashtags down below AND YES if you want to ask questions about him Q and A IS open. Please I crave interactions.

I do role-play im just not great at spelling yet alone grammer at times * my brain is all over the place so..~forgive me for that ~

Um..yeah actually I think that covers it!

Oh and please follow my associate who helps me out with some stuff and does beautiful art @chocolakawaii @rubyafton @charlesinferno

The ships I'm known by; BlackWine * Anthony x Mercury*, BirdandFoxChase *will x Anthony- ship name still needs work*

I do smoke weed and drink so if I start acting funny * not in a flirty way or abusive/mean way. Just. Funny* I'm most likely high and drunk. I'm very hyper when they're mixed. Very rarely I'll get depressed depending how strong the weed is. So if somehow I start acting differently and end up going offline randomly..that's why

Role-play Rules!!;

I will not do nsfw unless you're a close friend

I don't do (??; * walk over* sup) I do paragraphs/ illiterate ( Anthony smile softly " hey *character name * everything alright?)

If you have any triggers please tell me and I will try to avoid them or at least censored myself

Please no fetish stuff I'm not comfortable with it

Another thing; Please dont start being a complete dick and blame it on your disorders. I have anxiety, depression and high functioning autism, ADHD and I STILL don't act like a jerk

I do tend to cuss so be aware of that I.AM.NOT.CHILD.FRIENDLY.

If you're uncomfortable with multiships please do not interact with me.

If you're uncomfortable with crossovers please do not interact with me

If you do not like how I rp and claim that I ' put my oc in the spotlight ' I will instantly block you for that. I rp for fun and fair and if you don't like me using my oc the most because it's much more comforting then I'm sorry jut I'm not the right person to rp woth

Yes I'm willing to be some characters just not the ones I ship my oc with.

[fishyfod]

Winter & Yang Parallels and Contrasts

A comparison of Winter Schnee and Yang Xiao Long, and how they are shaped by their society and circumstances.

Or a thinly veiled excuse to gush about two characters I like

[gif by 5by5brittana]

This is split into four parts:

Pre Volume 1 backstory and characteristics

Relationship with younger siblings

Parallel Journeys between V1-5 and V7-8

Rough Speculation for Volume 8

Spoilers for RWBY V8 E1-7. Under the cut because this turned out very long.

Also, take this with a grain of salt? I wrote this for fun. This really is just, me going off the deep end.

I. Childhood and Upbringing

Winter and Yang are both the eldest children of their respective families, and have spent most of their lives growing up in the shadows of their legacies: the Schnee name and the fallout of team STRQ. These legacies are tragedies, and for better and for worse Winter and Yang are in the unique position where they also know the before, the brief time their families were whole (at least on paper). As their families broke apart, Winter and Yang have felt the need to fill the parent role for their younger siblings (more on that later).

This is the curse of the parent-sibling*, in which the lines between adulthood, childhood and parenthood are all blurred together when one is still a child. Winter grew up as Willow and Jacques’s facade of a marriage slowly fell apart and Willow turned to alcohol, leaving Weiss and Whitley under the care of  Jacques - a manipulative abuser - and someone had to step up between him and Weiss and Whitley. Klein, it should be noted, was the exception to the rule, as most staff reported to Jacques. Yang never had Raven, she lost Summer and for a while Taiyang after he shut down - someone had to take care of Ruby. Qrow just couldn’t be a full-time replacement to any of them

* [I believe the professional term is “parentification”.]

[RWBY Official Manga Anthology Vol. 4: I Burn]

This is Winter and Yang’s own personal tragedy, and as inspiring as it might seem from the outside - a mature, responsible child that helps parent their younger sibling - it is not at all healthy for the child in question. It does not matter if things might’ve improved later, the damage has already been done. Parent-siblings tend to become caretakers as well, and this manifests in both Yang and Winter, albeit in very different ways.

Which leads me to the next point, which is to emphasize the differences in both of these scenarios. The expectations from the Schnee name are very much a product of high-class society and Atlas superiority, which is very different from STRQ’s private falling out. Winter is roughly 7 and 10 years older than Weiss and Whitley, so she’s about 12 when Weiss (5 at the time) would become more aware of Jacques’s behavior, 17 when Willow began drinking. Yang was about 6 when Summer disappeared and the trek to the woods happened, and it is unknown for how long Taiyang shut down. Willow became seriously depressed just before Winter left for Atlas, whereas Taiyang eventually got back on his feet. Winter was abused by Jacques, Yang was abandoned by Raven.

Winter’s speech often involves doublespeak with hidden meanings, a strict deference to decorum, and a fair share of veiled (or unveiled) insults. She is closed off, and rarely engages in open physical contact. In private with her siblings or close friends, she tends to be softer, and may hug or pat on one’s shoulders. She has learnt this behavior in order to navigate Atlas society and quell her father whilst protecting herself and her siblings. Unfortunately, Klein appears to be the only staff to put the children’s needs before his servitude to Jacques, so even Winter’s interactions with Weiss and Whitley are soured by this prim, and at times, hurtful behavior; even then appearances must be kept. This is why Winter doesn’t act like a typical “Mom friend”, and why her need to take care of others manifests differently: in her conscience and willpower to protect others. Hence, she trains to become a huntress, the personification of protection, a way to help despite her difficulties expressing that need more conventionally.

Yang is open and outgoing, an easy conversationalist and very physically affectionate with her peers. She is upbeat, and also tactful at the same time. Why? Some of it has to do with her severe abandonment issues, making her more prone to bask in her connections to others. Equally important are the experience and circumstances she had growing up. She grew up in Patch, a relatively small community that is at best middle class. She had Ruby - only two years younger - to entertain and to teach, and in such a small household that also means many chores and mundane responsibilities to take on. By all accounts, Taiyang made enough of a recovery from his depression to parent well enough, and seems a fairly affectionate person himself. With all this encouragement and learnt skills, little hinders Yang from caring for Ruby and others openly and proudly. Ergo, Yang acts like a “Mom friend”.

These are Winter and Yang’s main personas, one uncaring and one unreserved. It is only natural that away from prying eyes or when put on the edge, they drop the facade and act contrary to it. For example, when Winter is angry or provoked, she lashes out and loses her composure. Usually, when Yang is angry she acts quite cold and restrained in her anger, and tries to project an unaffected persona. Alone with those she loves, Winter is more open and talkative, where Yang allows herself to be melancholic.

Yang may be open and candid, and could even be described as wearing her heart on her sleeve, but she is extremely reticent when admitting weakness or sharing her own personal grievances. Which is incredibly like Winter, though she is also taciturn in general. They have a tendency to avoid creating truly personal connections with others. They’re both used to putting on mask of strength and reassurance, and are quite adept at controlling their emotions (to a point). This is a defensive mechanism - they emulate the adults in their lives (who know the values of keeping up appearances) since they do not believe they will be taken seriously otherwise. They have internalized that no one will act on their behalf unless they offer something in return. By acting quasi-maternally to their younger siblings, they continue this act because it’s how they think a responsible adult should raise children.

[RWBY Official Manga Anthology Vol. 2: Mirror, Mirror]

The “practice” in home on their sisters developed in them the belief they should put others before themselves, even outside their family. Selfless as it may be, without moderation this behavior could be quite unhealthy. The lack of concern to themselves makes them feel lost and without purpose, with low self esteem and self-destructive tendencies.

Winter gives up the luxury of the Schnee inheritance for servitude in the army, a perfect place for someone who believes herself expendable. She says her personal feelings don’t matter, and is willing to throw down her life for others. Sounds familiar? Yang wants to become a huntress, which conveniently allows her to help others while drifting along life with no true purpose. She has very low self esteem initially, and her semblance literally benefits her taking hits for everyone else.

Intertwined with this, is a desire to find purpose, and to find value in oneself. They seek independence and a sense of control. For Winter, this meant training in the Atlas Academy and abdicating the title of Schnee Heiress. She remembers well when she could no longer rely on her father’s allowance. For Yang, it’s having a bike of her own and going out at night. She becomes protective of her appearance and long hair.

It’s worth noting that particularly a physical aspect of this independence - fighting - was something taught to them by the neglectful parents. Taiyang taught Yang to fight hand-to-hand before Beacon, and the hereditary nature of the Schnee semblance means Willow was most likely Winter’s first mentor.

Part of this behavior is also a need to escape the situation at home. With Winter that goes without saying - Jacques is abusive. Yang wants to leave the home she held together when she was a child; note her desire to travel the world, and her attempts to distance herself from Ruby so she won’t have to be relied upon even at Beacon.

In a sense, they’re both searching for the same thing - a parent to replace the ones who failed them. Ironwood and Raven both offer to be their replacement parent, at the cost of asking the children to leave with them to a new home, the one they’re leading and ruling. This doesn’t fix their family problem, and personally I believe neither Winter nor Yang full-heartily saw it as a solution, but they were both desperate enough to find anyone - anyone at all - that would take a weight off their shoulders and put them first. Yang searches for Raven, hoping she’ll find in her a mother despite everything. Fortunately for her, Qrow saved her from running after Raven prematurely. Unfortunately for Winter, James’s close friendship with Jacques meant he has known her from a young age, had observed how Jacques manipulates her and her family, and eventually offered himself as a savior from her situation at home. He had subtly groomed her into thinking the military - and more importantly, himself - was her only option to escape Jacques.

Despite this major difference, some similarities between Yang and Raven’s relationship and Winter and Ironwood’s relationship persist: the bandit lifestyle Raven offers Yang is militant and violent, similar to Ironwood’s army. Yang’s learnt conditional trust in authority would fit quite well with a bandit hierarchy built on perceived strength. Winter’s authoritarian outlook lends itself quite well to rise up in the ranks of the military.

Lastly, I’d like to point out the “inherited” philosophies of their respective replacement parents:

Raven’s philosophy: The weak die, so the strong survive on their own.

Yang’s philosophy: If I am not strong, I am weak and will be alone.

Ironwood’s philosophy: Every sacrifice is worth the cause.

Winter’s philosophy: I am not worth anything, so I can be sacrificed.

They’re all destructive mindsets, but the children inverted the implied destruction caused to others into their own self-destruction, in concordance with their shared need to put others before themselves. Part of the children’s progression will be to rise above these philosophies.

II. Yang & Ruby vs. Winter & Weiss

In the previous section I explained why Winter and Yang both act quasi-maternal and how it affected their growth and character. Now let’s examine their primary familial relationship, with their younger sisters Weiss and Ruby.

The simple truth is that much of what I said about Winter and Yang’s childhood is equally true for Weiss and Ruby, which could be explained quite easily - there’s only so much a child can do to replace adults. The important distinction is that for Weiss and Ruby someone did put them above everyone else, and that’s Winter and Yang. Consciously or by instinct, the elder sisters wanted to provide the younger sisters the safety they felt robbed off, and to give them the opportunity to grow and live as children like they couldn’t. In turn, the younger siblings put them on a pedestal and idolized them.

It is heavily implied Winter acted as a buffer between Jacques and Weiss, and was her confidant. Note how fluently they communicate their true thoughts  to each other by hiding them in sneers and insults, yet drop all pretense in private and speak clearly what’s on their mind then. Winter worries about Weiss’s health and well-being, and isn’t interested in her studies and ranking; this is a deliberate choice to belie what Jacques instilled in Weiss, to put her happiness before her image. Winter mentored Weiss’s semblance training and is her harshest critic. She was Weiss’s main motivator to rebel against Jacques, and advised her to cut ties with the Schnee name like herself; she warns her of the futility in trying to reason with their father on his own terms. Winter encouraged Weiss to follow in her footsteps as a huntress, and also in her decision to figure herself out independently.

Yang, in her own words, was the one to hold everything together following Summer’s disappearance. She protected Ruby from feeling loveless and alone as she herself felt, by putting herself there where Taiyang couldn’t be. She gave her attention, she read to her and hugged her. She played with her and entertained her, and went along with every joke and scheme Ruby wanted to make. She enables Ruby to let loose and have fun, to take pride in her accomplishments and to stand up for herself. It’s important for Yang to show her support and pride in Ruby as frequently as she does, most likely to compensate the times Tai couldn’t. Among her family, Ruby goes to Yang when she is worried and afraid. Yang truly was Ruby’s best friend growing up.

Note how both Winter and Yang instilled values in Weiss and Ruby that are better than their own, and encouraged them to be better than themselves. They want them to actively search for happiness, although they themselves seem incapable of following the same advise - Winter went to a thankless job with little reward, Yang is afraid of forming friendships that are not just surface deep. The younger, prodigal sisters are assertive and have set themselves clear goals and ambitions in contrast to their elder sisters, who both prefer to follow and dedicate themselves to others.

[gif by deshieart]

The idyllic picture I described here is not complete. Winter and Yang may have significantly improved Weiss and Ruby’s childhood, but in their limited power as children - or perhaps their simple human limitations - there are blind spots in their relationships. There are issues the younger sisters have separate from the ones the elders tried to shield them from.

Winter still grew up in Atlas and under Jacques, and she is not immune from the dangerous influence of both. Early on, Weiss seemed to believe in similar ideas, and part of that behavior is due to Winter’s influence. Although Winter’s escape from home is understandable, it must’ve left some Weiss bitter being left behind. Winter forwent the Schnee name, where Weiss wants to  change it for the better, and part of me can’t help but think Weiss’s conviction was affected by Winter leaving home.

As she grew up, Yang had two main caretakers - Taiyang and Qrow - who both experience difficulties addressing and sharing their problems openly. Yang, in turn, learnt not to share her own issues and put on a reassuring facade. She compartmentalizes, keeping her issues separate from what she shared with Ruby. But children are more perceptive than we might think, and Ruby must have picked up on Yang’s behavior and took it in. Ruby has her own version of keeping to herself - she ignores her problems and represses, avoiding the issue altogether with seemingly no healthy outlet. [x]

The narrative of the show tends to juxtapose these relationships against each other, cutting from one to the other and comparing them side by side, parallel or anti-parallel. The most obvious contrast is in their warmth: in Volume 3, Winter and Weiss are polite and reserved even privately, having lunch at an outdoor cafe. Yang and Ruby are loud and brash, playing video games and ribbing each other with their uncle. Winter pushes Weiss to confront Jacques directly, Yang seems content to support Ruby’s initiative by following her.

In volumes 4 and 5, the narrative matches the sisters in opposites: it is Yang and Weiss that are bound home and want to leave, and Winter and Ruby fighting in Mistral. Yang and Weiss overcome their personal struggles, and view their sister as their salvation, but end up finding each other first by chance (incidentally, Yang “returns” to Raven at the same time Winter returns to Atlas back to Ironwood). Meanwhile, Winter and Ruby become aware of Salem and the larger war at play.

When they are united with their sisters, this trend continues as Yang initiates the hug with Ruby and stops her nervous blabbering, and Weiss hugs Winter to stop her alarmed frenzy. Yang and Weiss reassure Ruby and Winter of their well-being.

[gif by sirianhewigxiii]

Come Volume 7, Winter returns as a full-time character and we see how after their respective reunions, the sisters return to their preestablished roles. Winter and Yang support Weiss and Ruby in their decisions and actions, listening to their younger sisters as they did before. Now, however, the sisters are on a more even footing: Weiss is now free of Jacques like Winter, Yang acts more assertive like Ruby. As a result, the relationship is less one-sided. For example, though Winter is not as doubtful of Ironwood as Weiss, she listens to her input and divulges a secret to her, showing that despite having differing opinions they begin to see each other as equals. Yang goes along with Ruby’s plan to hide Salem’s immortality from Ironwood (and even takes it a step further when she reveals Amity to Robyn), but she’s not afraid to tell her she doesn’t feel comfortable with that decision. It’s a step up from what they had before.

In the finale of Volume 7 and the premiere of Volume 8, the bonds between sisters are challenged, and they separate from each other. Winter chooses her loyalty to Ironwood over her trust in Weiss, Yang chooses her conscience over her innate trust in Ruby. Mind, these situations are not completely the same: the split between Ruby and Yang is pragmatic and they still view themselves as united, the split between Weiss and Winter is ideological and they are on different sides of the conflict.

I’ll leave my speculation what will happen to the sisters in the latter half of Volume 8 for the last section.

II.V - Winter & Whitley

A brief aside about Whitley, would be to ask if what I said about Winter’s relationship with Weiss could also apply to Whitley. The answer is of course no, Whitley and Winter clearly have an entirely different relationship here. Frankly, pinpointing its exact nature more precisely is difficult, since the center of the Schnee narrative is Weiss and we have little interactions between the Schnees that don’t involve her. I cannot offer you a definite reason as to why the difference exists, but I have a few guesses.

I’ll assume what we see of Weiss and Whitley in volumes 4 and 7 is similar to what Winter and Whitley had, and take into account Weiss’s statement that Whitley never really liked Winter (or her).  As Willow pointed out to Weiss, Whitley was left alone with Jacques, and began imitating him and emulating his hurtful behavior. Jacques took him under his wing, when Willow was at her worst, Winter away, and Weiss in the process of leaving. Deep down he understands he was being abused by Jacques, but with the cards stacked against him his damaging attitude becomes clearer - and particularly, the likely reasons he resents Winter and Weiss for.

[gif by chittychittyyangyang]

So how come Weiss and Whitley turned out so different, and how does Winter factor into this? For starters, I’ll point out again that Winter’s influence on the Schnee household is very limited, and that humans tend to make mistakes. For her to gloss over Whitley, or to presumably ignore him, could be due to several reasons. Perhaps connecting with someone 10 years your junior was just too difficult. Maybe Jacques intervened more often with Whitley, seeing as he was younger and impressionable.

It’s difficult to tell what exactly happened here between Whitley and Winter, and I don’t think specifying here is helpful. I’ll sum up by saying that however their relationship turned sour, I lean towards the reason being human error rather than malicious intent. Family situations tend to be complicated.

III. Yang & Blake vs. Winter & Penny

Here I want to talk about more subtle parallels between Yang’s journey throughout volumes 1-5 and Winter’s journey in volumes 7-8.5. The major comparison here would be between Yang and Blake’s relationship, and Winter and Penny’s relationship.

Before I begin, I’d like to stress that although Bumbleby is clearly romantic in nature, here I’m more interested in their development separate from the romantic aspects of it. As such, it’s not my intention here to argue in favor of romantic Winter/Penny, though I have nothing against it. I view it more as a platonic relationship with some familial undertones.

I explained in the first section how Yang and Winter keep people at arm’s length, so it’s natural to wonder about the exceptions to that rule, their relationships with Blake and Penny respectively. When they meet their new partners, Yang and Winter seem mostly set in their ways, with no real tangible goal beyond wanting to help others where they can. To them, Blake and Penny are a breath of fresh air, determined and purposeful, and they’re challenged by their perspective.

To me at least, how Yang and Blake interact during Beacon is quite similar to what we see of Winter and Penny’s relationship in volume 7. It starts off as a working relationship, but the continuous presence around each other has lead it into easy affection. It’s a give-and-take of differing personalities finding common ground, though here the more apt analogy would be Yang/Penny and Winter/Blake. They begin feeling safe with one another, opening up and sharing intimate details about themselves, and the other’s opinion and well-being matter to them. They even work well together as fighting partners.

[gif by chittychittyyangyang]

Yang tells Blake about Raven and her complicated family life, partially in an attempt to stop Blake from overworking herself. After Winter’s outburst at Jacques, she shares with Penny her vulnerability regarding her family, and tells her she can’t let her emotions take control of her. Neither Blake nor Penny accept their lessons at face value, and question those beliefs. Was Blake’s determination really like Yang’s quest to find Raven? Are Winter’s emotions truly a hindrance and Penny should follow suit? Still, their disagreements don’t stop them from caring about each other, as we see when Yang hugs Blake and Winter holds Penny’s hands.

Blake is a faunus rights activist who fights for what she believes in, and Yang admires her for it, and is also subtly inspired by her. Penny is dedicated to her role as the Protector of Mantle, and Winter is endeared by her devotion to the cause. In both cases however, this beautiful aspiration is soured by Adam and Ironwood, who use Blake and Penny’s noble efforts for their own gain.

Next both relationships experience a “falling out”. Yang fights to save Blake from Adam at the end of Volume 3, and sacrifices her right arm trying to protect Blake. At the end of Volume 7, Winter and Penny fight Cinder, and Winter sacrifices her body (and purpose as a Winter Maiden) for Penny. We have Yang and Winter, defeated and critically injured, left behind by Blake and Penny, both running away from their controlling abusers Adam and Ironwood.

There’s an interesting tidbit here about their natures as characters, as both “falling outs” hammer on a shared flaw between the couples. Yang and Blake are both afraid of putting their trust in someone else, one is afraid of being deemed unsatisfactory and the other afraid of hurting by association. Winter and Penny are both self-sacrificial, the former thinks her opinion and thoughts are worthless, the latter wishes to put all the weight of the world on her shoulders. The finales and aftermaths of volumes 3 and 7 are a cruel display of these flaws.

Yang and Winter are both injured enough to require a replacement for parts of their bodies, a robotic arm and an exoskeleton. The supplier of both limbs is Ironwood, who projects himself onto both women, “rewarding” them for selfless acts of heroic sacrifice like he sees himself. He saw Yang’s fight the the tournament, criticized her harshly for it, then heard about her noble sacrifice and told her he wishes she’d return fighting soon. He groomed Winter to be his second, scolds her when she disobeys him, and after her injury emphasizes her importance to him. It seems to me that Ironwood attempted to make Yang indebted to himself like he managed with Winter before.

The process of recovery for both women is difficult, and in Winter’s case rushed. On a purely physical level it could be argued they have recovered from their injuries, as both eventually return to the field after their recovery. If we consider their emotional state, things become trickier; though Yang was at first offered a fairly lengthy recovery period on her own terms, in Volume 4 her main motivation to recover is not for herself but for other’s sake - appeasing Tai and worrying for Ruby. Similarly, Winter’s recovery is overshadowed by Ironwood’s orders and the current situation’s time constraints.

This behavior on Yang and Winter’s part is not so strange to me, when I consider Taiyang and Ironwood’s roles in their lives. Because of Taiyang’s issues when she was a child, Yang learnt to put others before herself, particularly when it concerns Ruby and Tai. Yang’s recovery becomes less about herself and more about others after Tai subtly insults her intelligence and her “moping”. I view this as falling back into old habits, Yang learning that if Tai is put through too much then she’s taken too much space (she puts on her arm after overhearing Tai saying he has to stay to take care of her), and must compensate by putting Ruby (and in a sense Tai) first.

[gif by sister-ilia]

After accepting Winter to the army, Ironwood acts as some form of surrogate father to her. Winter looks up to him because he offered her safety from Jacques, and looks for his approval constantly. Look at her reactions when she’s scolded by Ironwood for misbehavior. Ironwood offered her asylum in exchange for subservience. When Winter is in her hospital, he first reminds her how reassuring it is to have her on his side, and then proceeds to kill a councilman for disagreeing with him. It’s an indirect threat against Winter, one carefully cultivated throughout their working relationship in the military.

Regardless, the physical recovery is only part of a larger process Yang and Winter have to go through. Volume 5 made it quite apparent Yang suffers from PTSD and emotional trauma from her fight with Adam, and Blake leaving triggered Yang’s fear of abandonment. She faces Raven for the first time, and is haunted by Blake’s mere mention. She struggles against the past - the parent she wanted to put hope unto - and the future - the hope she has in Blake.

Winter faces similar struggles in the first half of Volume 8 parallel to Yang in Volume 5. She is traumatized by the fight against Cinder, most likely with PTSD as well, and Penny leaving as she did has shook her inner beliefs. For the first time, we see her visibly struggling to adhere to Ironwood’s orders with ease, and she’s deeply concerned for Penny’s well-being. She is torn between her loyalty - to Ironwood, the parent she put her trust in - and her moral compass - to Penny, who challenged her to follow her feelings.

Coincidentally, RWBY chose to portray Yang and Winter’s stress with a shaking fist, where they were injured. Having said that, Winter displays many similar physical ticks like that before her injury, but the deliberate focus on the same tick as Yang is too great for me to ignore.

Both of these struggles are also marked by a decisive choice to take action and be assertive, which is remarkable where these two are concerned. Yang forms the plan to find Ruby via Raven and refuses her offer to join the tribe. Winter forgoes Ironwood’s orders to bring team JYR to custody, and instead relies on them to save Oscar from the Whale.

Yang’s recovery does not in Volume 5 either (nor does it end in Volume 6 for that matter), but at the moment Winter’s parallel arc is unfinished. I’ll speculate about this a bit more in the next section.

IV. Rough Speculation

So when I say rough speculation, I mean it in two different ways. One, is that I’m mostly focused on characters arcs, and they’ll be fairly abstract. Two, is that I’m fairly sure most of these parallels are accidental and not intended, so I don’t hold much hope any of these will come true. Instead, think of these as “if I wanted to make these parallels intentional, how would the story proceed next?”

One parallel I do think is intentional is between the sisters. It is the first time we observe both relationships put into the test, and the outcome of this split will obviously change the sister’s dynamic with each other. How will these two relationships compare to one another by the end of the volume, I do not know, the current arc isn’t finished yet. I can only comment on how I want and hope these relationships will proceed. Currently, I see the physical split between the sisters as an opportunity to reevaluate themselves independently of the other’s influence. And, I think this change will be positive for all of them.

Though it’s obvious Yang’s choice deeply affects Ruby and will contribute to her expected breaking point, I think Ruby will come out stronger at the end of it. Yang’s choice to take charge herself is obviously very important to her growth as a person. Given how RWBY framed their split around a mutual understanding both sisters’ viewpoints are correct, I don’t think their reconciliation will be one-sided - they will come to understand where the other is coming from, and their relationship - and team RWBY - will grow from it.

Despite the difference in circumstances, I think Winter and Weiss will echo this development as well. Jacques may be mostly neutralized, but the Schnee family won’t be miraculously healed because of it. At the moment, Weiss is facing that reality now with Whitley and Willow, and I think her arc this volume will lead her to begin healing her family in earnest. Winter will almost definitely leave Ironwood, and for the first time in her life she’ll be free from someone seeking to control her, free to follow her conscience. It will also give her an opportunity to reconcile with her family without Jacques’s influence, which ties in quite nicely with Weiss’s arc - Weiss pulling her family together, Winter letting herself be pulled to them. Weiss and Winter’s bond will come out stronger, and the Schnees will finally have a chance to heal.

[gif by wnterschnee]

You might’ve noticed I put a lot of emphasis on when and where Winter and Yang make choices for themselves, because I think these moments are vital for them to grow as a person. Starting with Volume 5, there’s a been a slow progression where Yang asserts herself more often, which culminates in her decision in Volume 8 to break away from Ruby with her own objective. Like her, Winter in Volume 7 quite often disagrees with Ironwood’s plans, yet follows them anyway because of her loyalty to him. This loyalty is no longer enough to sway her in Volume 8 when she starts disobeying his orders.

Again, I’m comparing two unfinished arcs, but I’m excited to see where this development will lead us. Having Winter and Yang parallel each other like so would really hammer home how similar these two can be beneath the surface. If at some point it involves more direct contact to drive each other, that’d just be icing on the cake. For now I’ll enjoy that their only personal interaction with each other is Yang telling Winter “[she’s] still just following orders?”, followed by a glare - hopefully this preludes a future conversation between them talking about this exact point.

I’ve already touched upon predictions related to the first two parts of this analysis, what about the third? Here we can go a bit wilder, because we already know what happens to Yang (and Blake) in Volumes 5 and 6. How would I mirror Volumes 5 and 6 with Winter (and Penny)? When I think of Yang’s recovery arc, two major scenes at the ends of Volume 5 and 6 come to mind.

The first is her confrontation with Raven in the Maiden Vault, an incredibly powerful scene where Yang properly confronts Raven and calls out her cowardice. One of the reasons it works so well is how difficult it is to realize Raven’s place in Yang’s life is not clear cut; Yang hates her for abandoning her and shirking her responsibilities as a parent, yet there is still love between them. Raven’s reaction itself is both an admission of care when she concedes to Yang, and also another failure on her part by leaving her off with the responsibility, running away again. In simpler terms, Yang reluctantly confronts someone she cares for deeply, yet isn’t on her side.

Who would be the Raven to Winter in a parallel scenario? One possibility is Ironwood, who holds a similar position to Winter as Raven did to Yang. Ironwood is an almost paternal figure to Winter, but he’s making wrong and dangerous choices, and Winter seems to realize it as well. He used her and exploited her, but also offered her safety and stability. Even after Winter defects, I don’t think Winter will want to fight him physically (if she’s capable), and would probably attempt to sway him with her words. Admittedly I don’t foresee Winter’s attempt at non-aggression to be successful like Yang, so it might come to blows anyway.

A second possibility it to put Penny in Raven’s place. Given that Penny’s also Maiden like Raven, and she’s on her way to the Atlas Vault, there’s some potential thematic parallels. Given their established relationship, I think neither would want to confront each other physically, and would rather talk instead. It’s possible here Winter and Penny will switch metaphorical roles, and it might be Penny that gives Winter the final push towards the heroes sides. It’s also possible, given Penny’s hacked plot line, that Winter will instead have to sway Penny back from whatever the hacking did to her. The last interpretation would also fit in quite well with Winter and Penny’s arc focusing on personal choice and feelings winning over.

The other incredibly important scene in Yang’s arc is the Bumbleby vs. Adam fight. Blake and Yang finally liberate themselves from Adam, Blake’s abuser and Yang’s personal enemy, and they defeat him by working together. Yang is freed of her personal demons, Blake of her literal demons, and in the aftermath of his death they mend their relationship. Their trust in each other won over strength.

[gif by sister-ilia]

If a parallel scene to the Nevermore fight would exist for Winter and Penny, I can think of three characters that could fulfill Adam’s role. Cinder already set her eyes on Penny and is fairly likely to fight her again, and in their previous clash injured Winter. It matches fairly well plot-wise, but I don’t think Cinder is enough of a personal villain to either Penny or Winter to match the same gravitas as Adam. For similar reasons, Watts, Penny’s “puppeteer”, can also fill Adam’s proverbial shoes in this imagined scenario, but I fear he’s too inconsequential overall.

Or, it could be Ironwood in Adam’s place. Ironwood seeks to control Penny (like Adam did with Blake), and acts as Winter’s personal demon (like Adam was to Yang) by continuously conditioning her to repress herself. Like the Nevermore fight, there’s a motive for them to avoid killing him, but given Ironwood’s current state of mind he might push them to that edge in self defense. Even if Ironwood’s defeat would not involve death, it would be a liberate Penny and Winter, freeing them from his control once and for all - but a Pyrrhic victory all the same. I’ll admit, this might be my favorite way to defeat Ironwood.

Coda

I’ll emphasize one last thought regarding these character arcs -  it is my strong belief character progressions, and healing arcs in particular, do not have a clear and set timeline. What I outlined here are not endings, but steps in the way. RWBY seems to agree with my train of thought, and with Yang in particular we see this in her current arc: yes, she has progressed immensely from Volume 3, but the healing process does not simply end, even if it may seem that way on the surface. I approach Winter’s character in the same manner; I have high hopes of her character and as a person, but change is an ongoing process, and I’ll treat it as such.

Thanks for reading my analysis! I know it’s a bit long and messy, I’ve had to skim through some ideas that could be expanded upon, so send an ask my way if you’d like me to elaborate on anything.

Other interesting reads:

Kali-tmblr’s essay regarding siblings relationships.

Tumblingxelian’s review of Yang’s Volume 4 arc.

Petracore’s review of Winter’s Volume 7 arc.

Theseerasures’s comparison of Winter and Yang.

Schneefamilyincorrectquotes talking about Schneeblings.

[kitkatopinions]

The 'James was always bad and you can tell because he doesn't trust or listen to others' argument is always just... So weird to me. XD Because James does display trust and listen to others.

When James fans point out that he openly accepts the council of others like Glynda and the Ace Ops, they say “he only trusts the people he keeps close to him.” And then when we point out that James shows open trust to Team RWBYJNOR when they first arrive, they say “he only trusts until he's given the slightest reason to distrust or there’s a disagreement or people challenge him, then he won't listen to anyone.” And James fans could point out that he literally trusts Team RWBYJNOR despite them stealing a plane unnecessarily, and works with Robyn willingly even after she started stealing needed supplies, and forgives Ruby for lying to him, and trusts Qrow to tell him to lead his men in V3 even after they’ve been arguing pretty severely and right after it seemed like Qrow was literally trying to kill him. But the response to that is usually “HE'S ONLY EVER NICE TO PEOPLE TO MANIPULATE THEM, SO IT WASN’T SHOWING REAL TRUST, YOU IDIOT!” Which is always fun.

So it’s not that he never displays trust or listens to others, it’s that people don’t want to believe he’s sincere. That’s fair and I honestly don’t care. So long as hate against Ironwood is tagged as 'anti ironwood,' I couldn't care less. People are well within their rights to headcanon what they want to make RWBY more enjoyable for them personally. My problem is that a lot of people get mad at IW fans for not subscribing to the ‘right’ headcanon that lines up with the ‘villain James’ that we believe is severely out of character.

But also the ‘trust and love and friendship will see us through’ theme is so badly done. And Ironwood is supposed to be the horrible anti-friend, anti-trust person who contrasts Team RWBYJNOR (And more specifically Ruby’s) pro-friends, pro trust beliefs. The main protagonist team wins because they trust, they’re good because they love their friends, we should root for them because they give second chances and listen to others! Except that the writers did a terrible job, because their ‘trust’ and ‘second chances’ and ‘listening to others’ isn’t consistent at all. We’re meant to ignore the fact that they drew their weapons on Qrow for stepping forward and saying hey and told him to fall in line or get lost when he didn’t like their completely unnecessary ‘steal a plane’ plan in Argus, because also they think the Ace Ops should be friends. We’re meant to ignore the fact that every single person in RWBYJNOR was willing to consider Whitley a snotty unwanted nuisance and no one had a problem with Weiss pointing her loaded weapon in his face, because once Whitley starts doing what they want, Weiss gives him a hug. We’re meant to ignore the fact that Ruby lied to Ironwood literally because she was suspicious of him despite him having reasons she believed in for the things that he did, because also Yang and Blake randomly told a hot tempered vigilante stealing from the project they believed in all or their plans. We’re meant to ignore the fact that they act like doubting Ruby is some horrible, scandalous thing and that they act like Ren not always telling Nora everything and not just being her boyfriend when she wants him to and then doubting that they’re doing much good makes him a horrible friend and a bad partner, because the group laughs along with someone who was trying to help murder Penny yesterday because now she says that they’ve improved and are actually good and right and that they grew. The protagonists don’t always act with trust anymore. Sometimes they just randomly pick the people that it’s arguably unwise to trust and share everything with them. But then they’ll act like the slightest protest to Ruby’s desires is morally wrong, or only tolerate some people when they’re doing everything they want, or they play mean spirited pranks on people who are soldiers or Whitley just because they don’t immediately like them. Or they suggest someone is being like already evil Ironwood if they so much as say “maybe we should decide to do something that would help people” when Ruby doesn’t want to commit. And they’ll decide someone is probably evil actually if that person explains everything they’re doing in detail and has a plan that the heroes one hundred percent like and back up but also they look tired. But then they’ll be like “Yeeeeah Winter did suggest martial law, which is a concept we’ve acted like has horrified us, and she did work with Ironwood willingly, the person we’ve literally warned the entire world couldn’t be trusted because we distrusted him and thought he was evil that much, and we have no reason besides her sometimes cold displays of affection towards Weiss to believe that she’s randomly turned her back on everything she believed yesterday and honestly every ‘indication of evil’ that we seemed wary of with Ironwood is something Winter has displayed just as much if not more than he did in season seven, but we really want her to be nice, so of course we trust Winter! We love trust! We always give second chances and listen to others!” You know what the protagonist team’s morals are now?

The writers just have things work out for Team Protagonists and their random as heck granting of trust and goodwill or doling out distrust and a complete lack of care and compassion because they’re the protagonists. It’s like Ruby has a script that lets her see who’s definitely going to turn evil and who’s going to be good, or she hears the same plucky or heroic music when some people talk and the same ‘trouble a’brewing’ and foreboding music when others talk that we as the audience do. Just like her choices don’t always make even a lick of sense, and somehow work out because protagonist magic and author-admitted letting her cheat the rules because they wrote themselves into a corner. Ruby and co don’t always trust, aren’t always nice, don’t always give second or even first chances, don’t always want to be friends, don’t always try to bridge a gap, definitely don’t always listen to others, and they oftentimes act like everyone should have to do what they say and that doubting Ruby is akin to declaring war or at the very least being a terrible friend. But if Ironwood so much as says ‘maybe Ozpin is wrong about some things even though we’re on the same side and are friends, and I shouldn’t just blindly do everything he tells me,’ that’s treated as proof of evil.

In short, the RWBY writers are not good and convincing writers anymore and despite the fact that they’re clearly trying to say there’s a theme of ‘Trust, friendship, and togetherness’ in this show, they just aren’t putting in the work of carrying that out in a consistent, well written, and thoughtful way. So I wish people would stop saying James was clearly always a bad guy ‘because he didn’t trust or listen to others.’ Trust doesn’t actually mean as much as the season seven theme song would have us believe in this show, and even if it did, James was one of the most trusting people in the whole show until the writers randomly made him evil at the speed of light.

[razorblade180]

Interdimensional Moms pt4

Part 3 here! <-

The tales had be interesting. The tales had even been emotionally gripping, yet all of them so far didn’t seem to register at the moment as Ruby’s teammates looked at her with the same excitement she used to give her own mother during story time. Ruby couldn’t help but give a little smile.

Ruby:I take it you’re ready for my turn? You do know it’s not exactly a sunshine and rainbows story, right?

Weiss:We figured as much, but....

Yang:You’re so different! From the moment you showed up I could just feel it in my gut. You have this...presence about you. Not to mention intsene confidence.

Blake:Yang is right. You said you beat your Salem when your seventeen. That’s...scary if I’m being honest. Such a drastic departure from any of our worlds.

Ruby:*red* Hehehe ummm I guess I’m just awesome? Really I don’t think it’s the most outstanding feat. At least by my worlds standards I suppose. I mean sure, I’m consider cream of the crop there too but there’s talented people and challenges all over that would put me through my paces still. I’m just...me.

Weiss:Sigh...honestly, I suppose that means our own skills must pale in comparison to our counterparts.

Ruby:Mmmm I wouldn’t say that for sure. My Yang would kill me if she heard this but there’s something about the one right here that has spark I dig.

Yang:Really?

Ruby:Uh huh. Can’t put my finger on it but I think you take her if you want it bad enough. As for Weiss....couldn’t tell ya. Haha, I know better than anybody to not underestimate the power of mother, and you pumped twins out.

Weiss:Not sure if those are pity points or real ones but thanks either way.

Blake:You don’t even have to tell me I’d lose. Just gave an entire story about me an my condition.

Ruby:Don’t feel too bad about it. I can’t imagine much reason for you two to fight for any reason. You’re both too reasonable to not reason with yourself.

Blake:Aw I’m touched.

Yang and Weiss:We aren’t....

Ruby:Hahaha I’m just saying! So, I guess I take things from the top like you all? From what I learned from all of you our Beacon experiences really are more or less the same, not counting certain interactions between a bookworm faunus and an adorkable blonde knight. Enrolled early, blew up the entrance, Weiss was rude, Yang ditched me, all the same beats.

Yang:There’s no super badass change like you beating Cinder the night of dance and making our entire lives easier?

Ruby:Ha! I wish I was that legit. No, I was very much the young girl tripping in heels that night. Vytal festival came around and was attacked, then Beacon fell. Pyrrha was lost and so was Penny. Difference being that was my last time seeing her, unlike Weiss’s story apparently.

Weiss:Yeah that...that’s a little bit of shock to be frank. Sorry.

Ruby:No worries. Not like you did anything and it was decades ago for me now. After that day is when I started to get a bit more serious I think. I had always taken being a huntress seriously and never slacked of in trying to live my dream. However, my perspective may have honed in on just how do or die life his when you’re the one choosing to walk into unknown danger. Team RNJR’s first and only mission, save the world!

Yang:Sub mission: Flirt with Jaune Arc.

Ruby:*blushing* We do not choose who we fall in love with it. But yes, that may have been a personal pseudo mission for me. He’s my first friend at Beacon for crying out loud and I you know.....thought he was cute then too.

WBY:Yeah that checks out.

Ruby:What does that mean!?

Weiss:Ruby, even my Ruby admits to finding Jaune attractive and having a crush on him back in the day.

Blake:Same.

Yang:I already went into enough detail on how my little sister feels about Jaune. Your just the reality where you pounced on the opportunity and never let go. Struck when the iron was hot and none of us were around; sly fox.

Ruby:Gee you make it sound underhanded. It isn’t like I intended to actively pursue him. Everyone was really sad and stressed traveling to Anima. There was a tension in the air. One that really strained us. I did my best to keep focus, but a leader is only as put together as team. Ren and Nora confided one another as usual and I tried being there for Jaune because seeing him emotionally shut down was rough; so I did my best to be there for him. Then...he ended up being there for me and I was the one who needed comfort. All the airing out and late nights just...led to....*red*

Blake: “Breaking the tension?”

Ruby:I guess that’s one way of putting it. We were lonely. I hid my feelings best I could under the veil of comfort in the moment. Not that needed to. He made it pretty clear that he wanted me in the same way I wanted him. I just the two of us were too scared to ask for promises we weren’t sure we could keep so we loved in the moments we could, so to speak.

Weiss:If it wasn’t under dire situations, all that sounds oddly romantic.

Ruby:Right!? Looking back at it makes the entire thing seem romantic but I definitely wouldn’t wish a similar experience on anybody! I guess it’s what I wished for when I fantasized huntress life huh? Things obviously got better along the way. Our relationship got a bit more serious right before we got to Haven. Then Tyrian and other crazy stuff happened that threw all of us into panic mode again before slowly getting better again by a lot.

Yang:We showed up?

Ruby:Bingo! You and Weiss, met Oscar, and then eventually Blake came back. Things were on the up and up.

Weiss:Uh, Haven attack?

Ruby:We lived, up and up. Yeah you got stabbed but you know...that’s not new I’m sure.

Weiss:Yeah I have the scar and I’m still little pissed.

Ruby:Valid. Anyways, so my Atlas experience was different as hell. There was no formation of Remnants armies like Weiss spoke of or even between two kingdoms like Blake. Yang, what happened yours again exactly?

Yang:Nonsense. Cinder showed up with lackeies but not Salem’s lackies. Those people showed up separately, then Adam came back from wherever the hell he- a lot! A lot of people showed up for different reasons but also the same reason and to be frank, we all almost got shot by the military for being in bases that quote unquote, “didn’t exist.”

Ruby:Man I wish we traded. That at least sounds crazy enough to be fun. Just a rollercoaster in the dark basically. My experience was probably as hectic, but also way more streamlined. We showed up, and then all hell broke loose. Specially a mass grimm invasion lead by Cinder and her annoying associates. We were there for about three weeks updating General Ironwood and getting our barrings together when it happened. I wanna call it a hit and run tactic but it was clearly planned in advanced. Mechs were hacked again, traitors in the military, grimm lying in wait before hand; it was chaos! All for the relic.

Blake:Who was the maiden?

Ruby:Never met her. By the time we got there, Ironwood was panicking because she had vanished, taken right from under his nose. It was some young girl apparently, really young. The attack on Beacon looked like child’s play to this. Mantle got attacked, grimm were on the chains, they tried dropping Atlas to the ground; all a diversion for a relic. We all should’ve died, and yet, we didn’t. Winter and Weiss weeded out traitors, huntsman and military held the line, Yang bested Hazel with Nora, Qrow and I cut down Tyrian! Ren, Blake and Jaune helped the kingdoms while Ironwood struck down Watts. Nobody was in the mood to die that day. There wasn’t gonna be another Beacon. By all means, we were pissed. Even Raven showed up of all people.

Yang:What!?

Ruby:You can’t attack a kingdom without the world knowing. Especially when traitors leak info. Honestly she came for you though, or she never left to begin with. Couldn’t tell ya. Thanks to Maria I had a bit more handling with my eyes. That helped a lot. Without them and Os-

She stopped herself, choking on the words. The zest and excitement of recalling the heroic feats of her friends dimmed slightly with her smile. Her joyful smile became bittersweet like the memory.

Ruby:Then there was Oscar, the real warrior on that flamed filled night. That battle had to have been three days at least. We were so driven, and so tired. I was tired, but Cinder, Neo, and the others with her at the time weren’t; always showing up at the worst time. I managed to push Cinder back in a fight but grimm and others still swarmed. We were at a point that grimm very well might’ve did us in and the villains didn’t have to push any harder. But Oscar changed that. Hehe, what’s it about country folk that makes people like him and I not hesitate to grit our teeth? That dork looked at me, gave me the biggest smile on the the steps to Atlas, and then he left. His hair went white as he twirled the cane and then he left, forever. Oz came out, and he left nothing to the imagination. “Limited magic” my butt. He obliterated grimm and made a barrier aroma Atlas while everyone else cleared Mantle long enough for the world to send reinforcements. Salem didn’t get the relic, but she got the maiden and thousands of casualties. Oscar being one of them. Also, Whitley....he was in critical condition for a very long time.

Weiss:What do you mean...critical condition?

Ruby:Everything happened so fast Weiss. Panic was high, buildings fell....a piece on him. I wasn’t there but when I eventually found you, you were nearly hysterical and banged up. By some miracle he lived even though we could not reach him and he did not get aid for awhile. We thought him dead. It was only after everything we learned somebody got him. Being rich never paid off more than with medical bills. Thanks to youth and medicine he can still walk, but he can only do so much before being tired. He also left Atlas. The cold hurts.

Weiss:So, I run the company because he can’t?

Ruby:I wouldn’t put it that way, but it was one of dozens of reasons that made that goal stronger for you. Relax though, both of you get plenty of time to be witty siblings like I told you earlier.

Weiss:I know. It’s just, I guess it’s hard imagining Whitley hurt like that. I don’t think I could handle it.

Ruby:You definitely teetered in the moment. Knowing that happened though probably gave you anger and grit to fight the entire battle. You were a beast. Scarier than Winter. Anyways, that hollow victory was a real wake up call for the world. They didn’t know about Salem and we never told society in earnest. Cinder and other conspirators were enough to make Remnant work together to boost defense. Relief went to places that needed it and I, became the face of hope. Haven, Argus, Atlas, even people from Vale got to chattering of a particular group of people who always seemed to answer the call for help. Then the towns in between chattered. Yours truly had been carving a name in the history books and was only gain popularity the moment I stepped into Vacou, alone.

Blake:Alone!?

Weiss:What!?

Yang:Where were we!!!!!?

Ruby looked at surprised faces around the table, smiling tenderly. She looked down her dress and pulled out the cross she wore around her neck. Her thumb traced its edges as her mind began wandering down an old path paved with emotions raw to the core.

Ruby:I’ve always felt different. Not just because of my eyes but that there was just...a certain spark that never stopped going off for as long as I remember. There are plenty of people who can’t bare to watch others suffer, but there are fewer people I believe that truly feel the agony of other people’s pain. Beacon, Haven, Atlas, Argus; there was no place I went that I didn’t see the faces of others lamenting, and I didn’t make me want to grieve. Atlas took so much out of all of you and I just felt so....driven to stop that ache. For everyone’s sake, but mine as well. I wanted the world to finally get to the happy ending. Enough trauma had be sowed for a hundred lifetimes, so I went on ahead of everyone. I never doubted you all would follow but I wanted to get ahead of the curve and take on as much of the suffering I could do others wouldn’t. If the world wouldn’t give me a miracle than I’d be it myself for everyone else.

Yang:That’s suicidal! Salem wanted you specifically!

Ruby:It’s not like I went marching up to her door and said “1v1 bitch, I’m here” no, I just chose to move forward quicker than what we were all doing. Believe me, all of you were upset when you caught up, after I had already saved Vacou. *smiles* I really like that place. I told the people it was the next target and all they did was double down on pushing back. I managed to pin down the Summer maiden before the villains and thanks with the city on alert, there wasn’t a shift in the sand that didn’t go unnoticed. I got the jump on Mercury and Emerald, personally paying them back. Can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It didn’t take long before they realized how screwed they were with them being outed like this and Cinder having the nerve to retreat before hand. Both of them threw in the total, outing the plan against Vacou. A wipeout of a win. Not to mention they told me the location Salem’s little hiding hole.

Weiss:We missed all of that?

Ruby:That’s what happens when I leave in the dead of night and running on adrenaline. Like I said before, people were tired. As much as all of you wanted to hoof it, other’s were relying on you. Atlas almost dropped for gods sake. Eventually when you all caught up it was at a good time. Soloing was rewarding but difficult. Fortunately Sun, Neptune, Ilia, and a few other familiar faces were close by if I needed an extra set of hands. My little stunt earned the anger of everyone for awhile.

WBY:Yeah no shit...the leader left.

Ruby:Yang was the most upset, followed by Uncle Qrow, and you Weiss. I was ready for the blowback. Jaune and Nora saw me though and bursted into tears. Hehe, wasn’t ready for that. Felt terrible and cried back. To prevent that stunt again, my Yang convinced Raven to link me. A couple days of apologizing and rest smoothed things over. It also gave time for just a few close friends and colleagues to get together for an assault on Salem’s castle. A few were apprehensive about it at first but at the end of the day I was going. That attitude was infectious apparently. You guys, actually everybody, they started getting this hunger to end it all. Maybe it was the high of victory? Regardless, it sent me racing to the end with those that I loved most.

Yang:You’re a real “my way or the highway” kind of Ruby. I don’t get how that explains what made you so...elite.

Ruby:I’m not sure what to say. A fight needed to to fought so I fought it. A cry for help was heard so I ran to it. A grimm needed slaying so I slayed it. People needed me to win so I didn’t dare think of losing. Dying was never option, even when it stared me right into my eyes. I had things I wanted to do and people I wanted see for years to come. I guess...I am strong because of the fact I want things my way. A moment I’m not giving it 110% is a moment wasted. After all, a huntress is all I ever wanted to be.

A single dream she wanted since birth. The never ending desire to be the hero in stories told to her many nights ago. That’s all it ever was. That’s all it’s ever been. Even in meadow of beautiful red roses, one would be the rose that captured the eyes of many, that bloomed stronger than the rest. As simple as it was, that had to be the answer here. Weiss, Yang, and Blake were in front of that flower. The Ruby Rose that simply bloomed stronger than the rest. The one that clung to her dream as if letting go meant dying itself. The devotion was inspiring, yet also overwhelming. If this was Ruby they had lead them that day in the Emerald Forest, could they have kept up? Could she be the leader they followed? No, they couldn’t have. Something deep down inside them gave them that answer. No matter how she looked and how much she loved, this Ruby Rose was cut from a cloth they simply weren’t off. The same as others, but oh so different.

Weiss:You’re....kinda a monster, you know that right?

Yang:Seriously, I’m so...floored. It’s intimidating.

Blake:Not to mention humbling. I used to think I gave it all I had. Now I’m not so sure.

Ruby:Oh don’t be like that you three! You’re all living proof there was more than way to go about life, this war! Everything you gave was enough because you’re done with it! Nobody failed. Besides, I...am far from ideal. The assault was challenging. Getting around hoards of grimm and making it to Salem was hell made real. Neo tried taking another shot at me but Yang held her off with help. Everyone pushed the obstacles in front of me out of the way as I went to Salem herself. Cinder had been abandoned by her and stripped of a lot of her powers. Angry and desperate, she tried killing me again as a way to prove worth. I beat her. However, I let her walk away.

Yang:What!? Why would-

Ruby:Naive, I was...naive okay? She was all spent and though I hated her, I just couldn’t. Not when I looked into her eyes and saw that same hunger I had to claw and scream at my dream until it was in my hands die inside her. We both knew from this point on there was absolutely nothing she could do where this ends her way. All she worked for turned burned to ash. So I gave her the choice to not burn up with it. Cinder swallow her pride and then fled. A part of me couldn’t help but rationalize killing her didn’t solve or justify any of my beliefs or desires. It would’ve done it because I hated her like she hated me. That was the dumb logic of a seventeen year old who never quite learned to take things slow.

Blake:....I don’t think it’s dumb. Naive for sure, but maybe that’s good? Even my Ruby, she never wanted to act on hate. She didn’t. Salem lives.

Weiss:Mine sent her soul to be at piece instead of passing a cruel judgment.

Yang:As a person who’s seen what you looked like with nothing but vengeance inside, I can say it doesn’t fit you. Before that day you had a warmth inside you to even foes that were somewhat admirable. You chose to leave Cinder’s fate up to those who had that hate and Salem was undone by her own doing at the very end. That’s what really makes you special Ruby. That’s why you’re called an honest soul. Good will is your nature.

Ruby:....Hmm, you sure know how to butter me up. *scratches head* I guess that part of me is uni-I mean multiversal. Strangely, that makes me feel better, to a degree.

Weiss:Do we even have to ask what happened to Salem at this point? I doubt the story ends with you loosing and having to retreat.

Ruby:Who’s to say it doesn’t? I could’ve been beaten to death before the gods themselves descended down to revive me with awesome power.

Yang:....Did you?

Ruby:Wh-No! Haha, I made her an immortal statue.

Blake:I-It was that easy?

Ruby:Well I wouldn’t call rushing into hell’s castle easy, or Salem. I lit her up at least a dozen times. My head pounded from each use, I was tossed around a bunch, magic is annoying, and not to mention running out of ammo. I left nothing to the imagination in that fight. If it were easy then I wouldn’t be rooting my horn and my age doing it. I was so tired I blacked out afterwards. I woke days later with a sore body and the title of “Remnant’s Savior.” Apparently beating Salem had weakened the grimm everywhere and all of you made sure who was to be thanked for it. That’s the tale of how I saved the world with my friends. Love, trust, elbow grease, and a lot of bullets. Before the final battle, Ozpin had struck a deal with everyone involved. In return for saving the world, he’d cut ties with us.

Yang:Seriously? What brought that about!?

Ruby:Good or not, he lied and was a schemer. Sure I was gonna try to save the world regardless of his interference but there wasn’t a person alive that didn’t to finally take a step towards the future after all this. All of us finally had time chase dreams and help the world the way we wanted to before all of this. Blake begin mending hate, Weiss took back her company, if Yang wasn’t with Blake then she was seeking more answers to Raven on wild adventures.

Yang:You mean Raven still left after all that!?

Ruby:In her defense, both of you made everything fucking awkward when she was around. It’s like you both wanted to talk about something but knew any subject was a land mine so you all you ever did was...stare, like weirdos. Glad that’s in the past. She just lives with dad now and you two now to hold a conversation. I dare not ask for more. I’d be a granny by the time I did.

Yang:Sigh...I don’t know what I expected. Shit it the fan several times and children were born before mom and I found solidarity and understanding. What did you do afterwards? Your goal was already met.

Ruby:Like hell it was! I started busting my butt traveling around the world, visiting every place to help in anyways I could. Ren and Nora tagged along for awhile before going off to make an orphanage in Anima near Ren’s old village. That left Jaune and I to do our hero thing.

Yang:As well as other things....

Ruby:Hey, what can I say? We were young and going up in the world. By the time I was nineteen, I was now a married to my partner and best friend.

Weiss:Uhhhh-

Ruby:He’s my partner on RNJR and you’re my BFF, gosh did I really need to explain that hehe?

Weiss:I just had to make sure. Crazier twists could happen.

Blake:Wow you married young. Not that there’s a problem but I’m surprised. Then again you also dated earlier than my Ruby. Hehe, weapons were on her brain for a long time.

Weiss:No kidding. When I learned about you crushing on my brother I was shocked to find out you liked anybody in general. Especially a person who isn’t a weapon nut in the slightest.

Ruby:*shrugs* All you’re telling me is I’m clearly the most impatient or impulsive Ruby you all know. Don’t know how that happened. Maybe I was dropped as a baby or had one too many coffees growing up?

Weiss:I’m willing to bet it’s both.

Ruby:Ruuuuude. So yeah, that’s...the story of how I saved the world and married Jaune. We even built a home just outside Vacou, overlooking the kingdom and neighboring town in the distance where Maria grew up. Yeah, that’s me....more or less. All the triumphant parts anyways. Anything later on is......

.......

Blake:R...Ruby? You okay?

Ruby:Nope, not really. *clenches cross*

Yang:......You know, I never really got religion, especially after learning the truth. It just seemed completely hollow when you learn of the real gods, ya know? However, I changed my tune a bit after being a parent and then some more when uncle Qrow died. It was never really about the truth behind if those other gods were real-

Ruby:It’s the piece of mind in believing in a better place for loved ones and having people watch over you. It’s truly based on blind faith in every sense but that’s okay as long as it gives peace of mind, to stay strong. Yeah....that’s why I wear this.

Yang:If that’s the “why” then I guess the unavoidable question is what happened?

The reaper leaned back in his chair, letting out a long sigh. Ruby brushed her hair out of her face while her face went pale. Then, Ruby’s eyes, her teammates watched a pair of stunning silver eyes dim, becoming akin to a clouded mirror.

Ruby:Being a huntress was all I wanted. The plan of having a family and settling down never appealed to me much. I feel, I felt like being in the field was where I was meant to be. It’s where I was most myself in a way. So the day I learned that I was pregnant was more than a little upsetting and terrifying, until dad and time itself filled me with the most genuine joy I may have ever experienced. Dustin Arc Rose, my first born son. He opened a door to a world and life I never knew I wanted to be apart of. Then...that door was shut minutes after, when Cinder and Neo stole him right from my arms. I couldn’t do a single thing about it other than blackout. That single act of good will I showed, it did nothing but kill me inside. The same way I did to her.

WB:.....

Yang:Ru-Ruby....your eyes.

Ruby:Hmm? Are they clouded? Funny, I would’ve thought your Ruby would’ve had a similar change. Maybe that’s a world exclusive thing, or a testament to the will you Ruby has to endure. Clouded eyes on a silver eyed warrior means the person has lost the desire or rather the mindset of persevering life. Be it their own life or wanting to end another’s life out of resentment, strife. My entire world fell apart when I woke up and learned nobody was able to retrieve Dustin. I was in pieces, Jaune was broken, nobody was the same. There wasn’t a soul we didn’t know that hadn’t tried to find a lead, but we never did. He was just...gone; and I couldn’t cope at all.

Weiss:I don’t think any mother could. Ruby, I’m so sorry that happened to you.

Ruby:I’m sorry too. I lashed out in anger, and shut people out. My eyes clouded and I dove into my work for a little over a year doing nothing but searching aimlessly as I took and every job back to back. The more time went by meant the more people eventually had to go back to their own, and it drove me up a wall inside. No one could reach me. I didn’t want anybody to. Not even Jaune. I....*teary eyed* I left him alone in house. There was no part of me that could even attempt to understand his pain because I was drowning in mine. I was told he tried his best to catch them at the hospital. I never hated him for not succeeding but I...he... I just, I can’t. I don’t know what I thought. All o knew was I didn’t even want him to touch me. How cruel is that? *hugging herself* I made him drown in despair in the same way I was. I wasn’t home so often that I never realized he eventually left it abandoned to live with dad. Yang and Blake I didn’t even show up to your wedding. Jaune did that much. Hell, Raven attended. Ruby Rose as a person didn’t exist any more. I was only a wandering huntress looking for answers or the challenge that might’ve ended me.

Blake:What changed?

Ruby:Oz, he did what nobody else dared to do. He fought me. I don’t think he thought twice about it. He was prepared to accept all the anger I kept inside until I eventually broke down into tears like I’m trying not to do right now. Thinking about that time is still, extremely difficult. Oz let me lament, encouraging me afterwards to finally except the fact Dustin was gone and that I needed to process it properly. First I went to you Yang, in order to have a my big sis to lean on. Can you guess how that went?

Yang:With me holding you tighter than I ever had before.

Ruby:*smiles gently* I don’t deserve you. You and Blake then came to patch with me where everyone else waited for me and helped me face Jaune. That may have been the hardest thing I’ve done. Grieving or not, the fact that I left him in such a state. I know what that does to people firsthand and yet I left. For the first time in over a year we embraced and finally grieved together. The next two years were spent trying to heal and cope. During my time away the world had fully acknowledged me. I even got a proper nickname, but it all felt hollow. Imagine that, achieving your dream but not caring? If that’s not salt in a wound then I don’t know what is.

Weiss:What’s your title?

Ruby:I am the person people want to see when evil comes to cut their story short. I am a symbol that their tale still has more to tell. Remnant has named me The Storyteller. Curtsey of Maria, who spread the name around. Healing was slow and most nights I felt a pain in my heart, but then everything changed. One moment made me dare to try again to open that shut door in my life. *looks at Yang* I held your son in my arms. Sweet little Kovu.

Blake:*smiles* Kovu? Now I wonder who named him?

Yang:*red* Huh...how about that? Hehehe, wish I could meet him. I know he isn’t technically mine but I can’t help but feel all warm now. Also I can’t believe I named him that!

Weiss:I can. Veronica’s middle name is Nala.

Yang:Okay, maybe not marrying Blake was a win? Clearly I can’t be trusted to not name my children after other cats.

Blake:The wrong kind of cat too. I’m a panther faunus, not a lion. Even if they’re blonde that’s still false advertising of what they are.

Ruby:Well Yang was the one giving birth so you lost a majority of the option to complain.

Blake:That is fair.

Weiss:You gave birth to Vee, so I think that solves who picked her first name.

Ruby rested her head in her propped up hands that rested on the table. She felt exhausted reliving that chapter of her life mentally. Still she managed to smile, then smile bigger. Her eyes unclouded and a warm feeling filling her again. What Ruby said earlier about what made her different may have reign true, but her friends could since that there was now more to it. Ruby had spiraled into an unimaginable tragedy, yet was able to bounce back thanks to loved ones. To smile as she does, it was truly a strong sight to see. Even if she wasn’t fully aware of that.

Ruby:Carmine Arc Rose, my second born and the first child to call me mommy. Followed many years later by itty bitty Garnet. He’s my little man, five years old while is big sis is seventeen now.

Yang:Damn! That’s a gap. Oh, also congratulations. Almost forgot that part. I’m glad you got to be the super awesome mom that-

Ruby:I am easily C-teir.

Yang:Oh come on! What!?

Ruby:Listen, I know I got on you all for calling yourselves bad parents, but I will hear no debate about me understand!? I flop a lot of times.

Weiss:That doesn’t make you a C-teir. That makes you a new mom, silly.

Ruby:*grumbling* I agree to disagree but thank you. It’s just a lot okay. Too much to dive into honestly.

Blake:Summarize. Give us an abbreviated version.

Ruby:Ummm so Carmine is real special kid. The absolute love I have for her is unbreakable but gods damnit if she isn’t the most... “me” I could be! In a way similar yet different from myself, Carmine has always had this sense of urgency in her and a love for the world around her. She recognizes that it’s a fragile piece we have and just how hard I’ve worked with everyone to make it. I could tell that from her when she was five. I’d sound crazy, but the fact she used her eyes at the age proves I’m not.

Yang:She has silver eyes!? Why didn’t you bring that up?

Ruby:I thought that was obvious. All of my kids were born with then. Unlike her baby brother though, Carmine was a weird little kid. She didn’t socialize well. Still doesn’t, she’s kinda comes off rude and cold because of her bluntness. She doesn’t really express all her feelings or understand others fully. One might call her a little cold but the passion she had to protect life itself is a testament to how much she cares. Carmine is also a genius fighter. To put in perspective, people use the same nickname for her that they used for Pyrrha.

WBY:Oh....

Ruby:Yeah! It’s not hyperbolic to say ever since Carmine is far beyond any skill I was at her age since she turned thirteen. You called me a monster earlier but no, I merely gave birth to a beast. I mean she could pass the huntsman exam at fifteen if I didn’t make her wait. I can’t call her arrogant, she talks with confidence because she has that right by all means. Still, besides her face, that’s where the similarities start separating; besides terrible grades in general stuff. We’ve never been in step completely. To put simply in her own words, “What I am is a hero, while she is a huntress.” That good will and mercy I try to give everyone isn’t how she rolls. It drives a real wedge that has resulted in us not going on missions together.

Blake:Is she...killing?

Ruby:She has before, and it had valid reasons entirely, but I also know for a fact she is more than capable of bringing down people without taking that step. Not all cases are that intense thank goodness. Her overall aggressiveness is the root of the problem. You don’t have to put you back into it when handling thugs. They aren’t Hazel.

Yang:Ooo okay, yeah I’m seeing what you mean now. It’s like that one comic you always read!

Ruby:Sigh...yeah she channels a bit of Batman energy and I need her to not do that all the time. I suppose being an honest soul isn’t particularly hereditary. It always feels like we aren’t enjoying each other’s company these days. I can’t blame her though. So....you know how all of you have had one serious problem that has both destabilized yourself as well as the kids and their relationship to you? *clouded eyes*

Weiss:Wait...you loosing a child wasn’t that?

Ruby:Oh it was. It just so happened that it never ended. It grew day by day. Night by night. Jaune and I were cautious with Carmine. Going as far to give her contacts and giving birth to her off the record and not at a hospital. Just in case Cinder came back. Well, Cinder and Neo came back, with my Dustin.

Nobody said anything. What do you even say to that!? All they did was let out a stifled breath and tried to gauge Ruby’s look of guilt.

Ruby:Yet again we had gotten too comfortable. It happened when Carmine was thirteen. I don’t think Garnet was even one yet. That’s when the cruelest realization hit me. My son had been alive and hearing about how his so called mother being a person who saves everyone, yet she never came for him. She had moved on, letting his eyes become clouded with such seething hate for the world she did save; the children she had after. It’s been four years since the day he attacked Carmine and helped grimm try to invade Vacou. To this day it’s been a life of staying on gaurd, searching for them as they popped up countless places to tear Remna- to tear me down and I can’t decide what part hurts the most. The amount of anger that prevents me from killing Cinder in a blink of an eye, or looking at my daughter who has told me herself that she is going to kill her older brother because I’m too weak to do so. That I’m in no way as good as the world believes me to be. *puts hood up* Like I said, C-teir mom, at best.

Blake:That’s- you can’t- there’s no way for you to reach him? Maybe if you-

Ruby:He looks at me the same way Neo and Cinder do, Blake. They raised him to hate me. Besides, he hurt Carmine. She’s just not gonna let that slide and frankly I shouldn’t either. Carmine acts tough and for the most part is, but gets terrified like everyone else. In many ways she’s still just a young girl that I wish had never chosen to become a huntress. If I had it my way she’d just be a normal girl with normal knees; but her mother’s weakness and inexperience wrapped her up in yet another war. It’s ironic. I barely remember mom and yet I ended up putting my family in very similar situation as if she lead instruction. Happy endings, I’m not sure if I get-

Yang:You’re better than mom....

Ruby:......

Yang:Yeah I said. Look I love Summer Rose but at the end of the day she wasn’t around, not that she didn’t want to be, but it’s the truth. Several years of pleasant childhood memories and a lifetime of grief is what she left me, and all you got were tales you should’ve experienced first hand. Ruby you have spent seventeen years loving your daughter unconditionally and being there for her no matter if it’s for better or worse. Yeah you might not being doing it perfectly and I have no idea how to even fathom your predicament, but at least you are there trying. Take it from me, that’s all a daughter ever wants from their mother. It’s also what makes a pretty kick ass dad. *smiles* Chin up, hero. Your story isn’t over yet after all.

Silence filled the air and Ruby’s throat ran dry. Ruby pulled out her scroll to go to her pictures and displayed one of her favorite photos for everyone to see. It was Carmine’s fifteenth birthday. Ruby didn’t lie about the resemblance. the girl had short blonde hair that stopped halfway down her neck in the back and was longer in the front, reaching shoulders. Like her mother, the tips of her hair transitioned to red. The beautiful young woman tried to her hide her smile but her gleeful silver eyes were practically twinkling with joy as Ruby hugged her tightly from behind and a tall, more solid version of Jaune was smushing one of Carmine’s cheeks with an overly dramatic kiss to it. A tiny child no older than three at most was in his big sister’s arms. Garnet had his mother’s hair and eyes but something about the chubby face definitely showed Jaune’s features. The child had red frosting on his face and was reaching eagerly for more cake somewhere out of frame.

Yang noticed the girl took page from her father and wore some regular cargo shorts, but clearly didn’t lack flair by wearing a red crop top that showed off a fresh tattoo of the Arc crest on her toroso. Knowing her sister, that tattoo was most likely practical. The family looked happy, proud; and the mother of it currently sat across the table crying with her head face down in her hands cwhile Weiss and Blake hugged her from each side. Roses may have thorns, anyone who knew roses knew a simple truth. They’re still fragile flowers.

Yang:(Carmine Arc Rose. For you and your mother’s sake, I hope things go well)

xxxx

Though Carmine seemed cold by nature, people were quick learn the opposite. The most recent learner of this was a scared little girl that held on for dear life. It was nighttime, nothing but the sound of pouring rain and the distant glow of red and the warmth of Carmine holding the girl against her body while she sprinted through a mud ridden forest. The little payed no attention to the pain in her side, but the glow of roses, eyes, and flames through her tear filled eyes.

Beowulves chased frantically but then severed immediately by something the girl couldn’t understand, but it looked like the person carrying her. The dead beasts brought no comfort. Not when more followed close behind.

Girl:I-I’m sc...scared!

Carmine:Don’t look at them sweetie, it’ll be fine. Just keep being a brave little girl.

Girl:M...Mommy was back there.

Carmine:.....I know, she’ll be just fine. Your village, there are plenty of people there that will be just fine! Huff..... You got a name?

Mary:Mary.....

Carmine:Oh that’s a beautiful name, Mary. You know I was almost a Mary? Yeah my grandma was a really amazing person and I almost got named something similar to her. Mary is a very strong name!

Mary:You’re a liar! I’m sad, not strong. I want my mommy! Everything his dark and hurts and I want her!

The girl began painfully crying as Carmine followed her trail of roses to avoid getting lost. Things were getting worse. The storm raged and she could feel this girl burning in her arms. Not to mention the unsettling warmth the mixed with the cold rain against her body and dripped to puddles below. Any grimm near by could only be dealt with by many copies of her nearby, but that would only go so far when fear was out full force. Carmine’s boots felt like cement, but she still ran.

Carmine:Mary, you know what do when I miss my mommy? I sing! Yeah, my mom sings the best lullabies that made me feel super strong when I was little! It’s a magic song that makes everyone strong. How about I sing it you and they can sing it your mommy later okay!? But you have to close your eyes to really focus on the words!

Mary:*sniffling* Okay....

Baby deathstalkers swarmed the path made ahead as small Nevermores dove at her. Out of options, Carmine broke from the path, trying to rely on memory to go towards the safe zone while also singing lyrics to her favorite song.

Dream of anything; I'll make it all come true.

Everything you need is all I'll have for you~

Carmine never wavered. No matter how badly her lungs her or nearly slipped, she kept singing all the way to her destination where several other clones were seen racing towards with more civilians to injured or young to go themselves. An orphanage where Nora and Ren stood outside rushing people in while Jaune was keeping the grimm at bay. The sight brought a little ease.

Don't worry, I've got you; nothing will ever harm you.

I'm close by, I'll stay here; through all things, I will be near~

Carmine finally reached Nora and passed off the girl who’s grip weakened overtime. A few lyrics in and Carmine knew she was singing mainly for herself.

Carmine:Get her medical attention! I’m gonna go and find more! There’s still-

Jaune:Wait, it’s too dangerous!

Carmine:I know! That’s why I have to go! That fire is spreading and there’s stragglers pinned down! Dad.....I’m pinned down!

Jaune tensed up and looked at Carmine. No scraps on her and her clothes only soiled by others. It didn’t take long to realize. The man resisted the urge to run out to the ruined town and stood firmly.

Jaune:Carmine...end it. We’ll worry about the consequences later.

Carmine:....Okay.

Across the woods amongst the flames the real Carmine stood bleeding and bruised in front of two Beringel that charged over the vanishing corpses of their fallen with more grimm, her sword stabbed into the ground supporting her weight. Behind all living people that remained finally managed to flee. All except for a woman trapped by house debris. The woman watched this young huntsman stand proudly again. She wasn’t sure what happened next. All she heard was one sentence.

“Close your eyes...” before everything went white. Next thing she knew, Carmine was lifting debris off her as rain and wind washed away any evidence. A relief she didn’t care about in the slightest. She neither had the strength, or the time too. Much like Carmine, who began to pant and teeter. It was clear to the woman that whatever just happened didn’t come without cost as she watched the girl fall to her knees. Though she tried moving, Carmine was spent.

Carmine:Don’t worry...we’re safe....let’s-

Woman:Go...

Carmine:Huh?

Woman:I...my legs. Everything...I can’t move. Just go. I d-don’t think I’d las-

Carmine:Don’t talk like that! The hard parts over! I can-

Woman:Barely walk. *smiles* It’s okay. I don’t blame you. You fought hard.

Carmine:.....I...I’m sorry. *teary eyed*

Woman:Say, I know that face anywhere. Your Lady Rose’s kid. Funny, I thought your eyes were red? My daughter, Mary, she loves your mother. Makes me kinda jealous hehe, but hey I love her too. *crying* Do you know if Mary made it? She was wearing-

Carmine:A black dress, pink ribbons in her hair...

Woman:Yes! Is she safe? I saw you- one of you carry her off.

Carmine:...She’s just fine.

Woman:Good. That’s all....that.....

The woman never finished her sentence. Carmine’s body fell limp on the ground, facing the rain. Even with the cold downpour she could feel the warmth of her own tears, containing her emotions best she could as she looked through her clones eyes to watch Nora take Mary away from the survivors and out of sight to not stir further panic.

Carmine wasn’t sure how long she layed there, but it was long enough for Jaune to find her. The man didn’t say a word. The town was in shambles. Grimm were still fading and his daughter looked tired, but not in serious condition. Unlike the those who didn’t make it. Jaune put Carmine in his arms, carrying her away to safety.

Carmine:......Does mom ever save them all?

Jaune:No, but that never stops her from trying; or mourning.

She clenched her father’s shirt and let herself be fragile, to be a Rose.

Carmine:Next time. Mom and I, we’ll both get it right next time. A happy ending for all!

Jaune:Yeah, I know you will. Together....