#i can understand people wanting Ruby or the team to just kick major ass

[ficretus]

I am getting kind of annoyed both at takes I see at rwde as well as anon who spammed my posts few weeks ago. Basically, they argue that on top of being awful character, Jaune also completely ruins his literary allusion, Joan of Arc.

Of course, you are free to like or dislike Jaune, however, when people claim they hate Jaune because he is a coward, I get really confused. Jaune is not a coward, he is pretty brave, to the point of it being kind of flaw since he has low regard for his own safety. If he was a coward, he wouldn't have went with Ruby, Nora and Ren to Haven, he wouldn't have challenged Cinder to the fight, he wouldn't have tried to infiltrate Salem's base to save Oscar, etc. They are pretty on the nose with it in Volume 8 when Ren states Jaune feels no fear.

However, meat of my gripes is with people not understanding Joan of Arc and how to translate her character to the story.

No, Jaune not being giga chad isekai self insert protagonist level of strong is not an issue or insult to his primary literary allusion, it's the opposite. I don't know do people get their Joan of Arc knowledge from Fate Grand Order, but Joan herself wasn't skilled fighter. She was never properly trained and never directly fought someone. In pretty much every major battle she fought she was wounded or knocked out (hit by an arrow at Orleans, knocked out by a rock at Jargeau, hit by an arrow at Paris, knocked off from her horse at Compiegne). In fact her knowledge of sword fighting was so lacking she accidentally broke her treasured sword when she struck a prostitute with its side. There is no good reason for Jaune to be some kind of prodigy when he is based on a character that never properly fought anyone.

No, Jaune relying on his team to solve problems doesn't make him pussy and isn't unlike Joan. Once again, Joan of Arc wasn't front line fighter, she was moral support to the army. Her greatest triumph, siege of Orleans, was just her directing armies where to go whenever she got a vision. And Jaune's Semblance makes sense for someone based on Joan of Arc. It is essentially morale boost Semblance considering boosting an Aura buffs both your health, defense and offensive abilities. It matches what Joan did for her comrades. Jaune relying on his team to accomplish things is not a bug, it's a feature.

No, Jaune failing doesn't make him an insult to Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc herself wasn't perfect and suffered handful of failures herself. After her victory at Orleans, she won at Jargeau, but then lost the siege at Paris. After that she was stalemated in Perrinet Gressart campaign, won a battle at Lagny and was then captured at Compiegne. After failed siege of Paris, and especially after stalemate against Perrinet Gressart, Court started doubting her abilities. It is simply different order of wins and losses with Joan peaking in her first battle while Jaune was completely useless during the Fall of Beacon but has upward trajectory after that.

Jaune's Joan of Arc is the one without any special abilities but with the same aspirations. He wants to be the hero and save the world, but he wasn't blessed with divine power that gives him unnatural charisma and allows him to see future events. People's gripes and suggestions how to "fix him" usually boil down to turning Jaune into generic power fantasy protagonist. Which is not only boring and misses the point of the character, it also misses the point of Joan of Arc. If Jaune was some kind of prodigy kicking ass since Volume 1, he wouldn't have been Joan, he would have been Roland, Arthur, Lancelot or whatever famous legendary knight you can find.

[razieltwelve]

Bonding (Final Rose)

“Get in here, Weiss. You’re one of the cool people now.”

Weiss wasn’t sure how to feel about being called one of the cool people, but some time in the hot springs after a mission sounded lovely. “Do you have to put it that way.”

Yang smirked. “Yep.” She splashed the water next to her and then waggled her eyebrows suggestively. “You do realise that it’s customary to enter a hot spring without anything on, right?”

Weiss clutched at the towel she was wearing and turned a shade of red comparable to Ruby’s cloak. “What?”

“Relax.” Blake walked past her with her own towel and eased into the water. “Although it is customary in some places to only enter a hot spring naked, this isn’t one of them. A towel is fine.”

“Oh.” Weiss’s eye twitched. “Yang!”

“Relax. I was just messing with you.” Yang chuckled. “Or didn’t you notice that I’m wearing a towel too?”

“...”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Yang continued. “I’d be fine even without it, but I figured you’d be more comfortable if I kept it on.”

Weiss huffed. “I suppose that’s true.”

Ruby walked over, looking just as unsure as Weiss felt. “We’re the only ones here, right?”

“Yeah, sis. I already talked to the owner. They’re so happy about us doing the whole hero thing and killing a bunch of Grimm for them that they’re happy to let us have the place to ourselves tonight. Now, stop dawdling you two. The water is great.”

Weiss glanced at Ruby and then hastily made her way into the water.

“Ah, this is nice.” Weiss sighed. “Wait... where’s Sally?” 

The true salamander had accompanied them for this mission, and she’d certainly proven her worth. Despite only being six feet long, her teeth and claws were wickedly sharp, and she could project flames hot enough to melt steel. They’d put her on ‘Weiss Duty’ as Yang liked to call it, which meant that Sally stayed nearby to make sure that nothing got close to Weiss while she worked her Glyph and Dust magic.

Yang pointed. “Over there.”

Weiss snickered. Sally was doing her best impression of a log as she floated face down in the water. “Is she okay doing that?”

“Yeah, she’s fine.” Yang stretched. “Ah, that feels good. Apart from the last few Grimm, none of the others were that tough, but there sure were a lot of them.”

“We’ll have to call it in,” Blake said. “The number of Grimm we encountered is definitely suspicious.”

“We swept the area twice,” Ruby pointed out. “We didn’t find anything else.”

“I know.” Blake shrugged. “But something about it just bothers me.”

“Well, if it bothers you, I guess we could call it in. Maybe they’ll send another team or assign more drones to watch this area.” Ruby rolled her shoulders. “But there hasn’t been any major activity in this area for years. This is the biggest incident they’ve had in a decade.”

“That’s part of what makes me nervous,” Blake said. “It’s too quiet.”

Weiss yawned. She’d used up most of her Aura today. The sheer number of Grimm involved had meant that blasting them away with area-of-effect attacks had been the only efficient way to deal with them. The last few Grimm, however, had been considerably tougher although the team had worked together to take them down without any major hassles. “Or perhaps the previous campaigns to purge Grimm in this area were actually successful.”

“We should be so lucky.”

Ruby giggled. “You two are funny.”

“Oh?” Blake raised one eyebrow.

“Usually it’s Weiss being the pessimist.”

“I prefer to think of myself as cautious,” Weiss said. Sally had floated toward her, and although she was less nervous around the reptile than before, she still wasn’t entirely comfortable around her. Sensing her unease, Sally shifted slightly and drifted toward Yang. The true salamander chirped and rolled over to show her belly, and Yang gave her an affectionate scratch.

“There’s nothing much we can do other than call it in,” Yang said. “But, hey, you should all be happy. We arrived, we kicked ass, and nobody got seriously injured. I’d say that counts as a win.”

“It’s always good when no one gets hurt,” Blake admitted. 

“Yeah.” Ruby nodded fiercely. “The best missions are the ones where everybody gets to go back home in one piece.” She could still remember what it had been like when her mother had barely made it back from a mission alive. She would never forget the years of treatment that had been required before her mother was at anything close to her full strength again. “It was a good day today.”

“Well, let’s hope we have plenty of good days in the years to follow.” Blake said.

Weiss chuckled. “You know, this seems like exactly the sort of occasion that calls for a drink.”

“A drink?” Ruby looked utterly scandalised. “But we’re too young to drink!”

“Technically,” Yang pointed out. “We’re not.” She reached over and pulled out a bottle of wine and four glasses. “This is actually the anniversary of our first mission together as a team. It’s been a whole year, girls, and a pretty great one too, all things considered.”

“Is that a Mistral Merlot?” Weiss sat up. “It is! And the vintage?”

Yang smirked and told her. “I wouldn’t cheap out on an occasion like this. So... want some?”

“Of course, I do.” Weiss leaned forward to take a glass before passing one to Blake. She was about to give one to Ruby before realising something. “Wait... we’re all eighteen, but Ruby is...”

“Sixteen.” Yang sighed. “I’m sorry, little sis. But you’re going to have to drink something else.” She took out another bottle. “Here.”

“Yang...” Ruby whined. “That’s soda!” She pouted. “Stop treating me like a kid!”

The blonde laughed and reached over to ruffle Ruby’s hair. “Hey, stop pouting. I was just kidding.” She smiled. “If you’re old enough to risk life and limb fighting Grimm, you’re old enough to drink.” She lowered her voice. “That’s what dad told me, anyway, but don’t tell mom.”

“I won’t say a word.” Ruby eagerly took the glass from Weiss. “So... I can have some?”

“Sure.” Yang’s expression turned serious for a moment. “But only because this is a special occasion and only because we’re around, Ruby. I do not want you going around getting drunk, understand? And definitely don’t drink if we’re not around to keep an eye on you.”

“I promise.”

“Good.” Yang began to pour wine into each of their glasses. Ruby pouted when she realised she was getting less than the others, but Yang shook her head. “Weiss and Blake have had booze before, Ruby. I’m pretty sure they can handle a couple of glasses of wine. You, on the other hand, have not had booze before unless you’ve secretly been sneaking some when I’m not around.”

Ruby looked away. “I might have tried to sneak some out of the cabinet at home.”

“Oh?”

“But Zwei saw what I was doing and ratted me out to dad.”

“Hah!” Yang laughed. “Good, old Zwei. But, yeah, finish what you’ve got - slowly - and then see how you feel.”

“Okay.”

Sally noticed everyone drinking and then chirped.

“Oh, no. You’re not having any wine.” Yang pointed at something out of the water. “But I got something for you too.” Sally looked over and then scrambled out of the water eagerly. She came back to the edge of the water with a trio of mangoes clutched in her mouth. “Not in the water, Sally.” The true salamander settled by the edge and began to munch on the first of the mangoes. 

“Does she like mangoes a lot?” Weiss asked with a sip of the wine. Ah. Wonderful.

“Oh, yeah. She used to sneak over into our neighbour’s place to steal some when they were in season. The professor says most true salamanders like fruits, but which one they like the most tends to vary. Sally likes mangoes the most, but there are others who likes apples, and there’s even one who apparently insists on watermelons.”

“You know,” Blake drawled as she reclined against the edge of the pool and swirled the wine around in her glass. “I’m glad I’m on this team.”

Ruby giggled. “I am too, kitty.”

“Kitty?” Yang sighed. “Okay, no more booze for you, Ruby. You’re definitely a lightweight.”

X     X     X

Author’s Notes

Team RWBY hanging out after a successful mission. Oh, and Sally is there too. Unlike many pets, she can actually come on missions because she’s more than capable of holding her own. And good guy Zwei keeping Ruby away from the booze cabinet at home.

If you’re interested in my thoughts on writing and other topics, you can find those here.

I also write original fiction, which you can find on Amazon here or on Audible here.

[candy-and-writing]

What A Triple Lutz Can Do

Dark! Bucky x Ice Skater! Reader x Dark! Steve

Summary: Steve and Bucky have found each other again, after everything they've been through. When Steve meets you at the Winter Olympics, he decides you're the perfect little doll for their plan.

Warnings: non con/dub con, stalking, drugging, kidnapping, male masturbation, pet names—kitten, oral sex (female and male), fingering, poly relationship (m/m/f), somnophilia, light bondage, more to be added as the story goes on

A/N: This is loosely based off @henchry​ post about Chris Evans dating an ice skater. I read it and instantly had this idea, I’ve just never posted it. I think I unintentionally used bunny by @buckybarney​ as inspiration in making final edits. They also helped me figure out how to make this moodboard, so thank you! Please let me know if you enjoyed this, I had a lot of fun writing this!

I am NOT responsible for your media content consumption. This work is not intended for those under the age of 18 due to explicit sexual content and/or dark themes. By reading this work you agree that you are at least 18 years of age. I do not consent to have my work posted on any third party app or website; if you are seeing this work anywhere other than tumblr and archiveofourown, it has been reposted without my permission.

Before the war, before Bucky had fallen off the train and Steve crashed into the ice, before the Avengers and before and the world made Steve Rogers harder—colder—he liked to call himself a hopeless romantic. He wanted to meet eyes with someone across a diner and feel the fireworks explode in his chest. He wanted to buy a girl flowers, he wanted to walk down the streets of Brooklyn while it was snowing with her hand warming his. He wanted to buy his girl a ring, he wanted to get married, have a family.

He thought he would get that with Peggy, but he missed his chance. When he woke up in another century, he thought for sure he would never get his happily ever after. The women today were so. . . brash. A lady was supposed to be kind, polite, and dutiful. He understood that times were different, but that shouldn't excuse the ungrateful attitudes.

Then he found Bucky again, and the crazy world he had been forced into didn't seem so hopeless anymore. 

Tony had received a call from the International Olympics Committee, formally inviting the Avengers to the Winter Olympics. They were in Italy this year, Milan and Cortina. It was the first Olympic Games to be held in two cities, according to Bruce.

The committee had asked Steve to conduct the medal presentations for ice skating and hockey. They wanted Thor to carry the torch for the opening ceremony, but he was off-world and unavailable.

So here Steve was, sitting in the Mediolanum Forum venue next to Sam so he could watch the ice skating events. He figured if he was going to be giving the winners their medals, he should see why they won.

The committee had given the team access to front row seating, and that's where he was when you came out.

You were the third skater, and the first American representative, to take the ice. Your hair was pulled into a braided braid low on the side of your head with a blue flower pinned above the bun. The little dress you wore was modest—the same shade of blue that matched your flower and a sleeveless neckline that connected to a sheer fabric for sleeves and a higher neck, the little flowy skirt stopping in the middle of your thigh. Lines of little jewels dipped along your bust, beads varying in size. You had makeup on, like all the previous girls, but yours was light and glittery—save for the ruby red lipstick, but even that looked classical on you. It reminded Steve of the makeup women would wear back in the thirties.

He was so focused on you that Sam had to elbow him in the ribs to get his attention. He shut his jaw then, listening to the way your name rolled off the commentator's tongue, the syllables lining and matching each other perfectly.

You were twenty-one, and this was your first time competing in the Olympics. You've competed in other national and international tournaments, and you've done good in them if he was understanding correctly. It made an odd sense of pride swell in his chest. You were skating to Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

You moved to the middle of the rink as the announcer informed the stadium who conducted and performed your piece. You had four quads set in your routine, two in the first half and two in the second. It got quiet in the arena as you raised your arm over your head and arched your back like a ballerina. Steve counted five seconds before the music started and you spun around slowly. You started to move your body and—

Oh. Oh.

Steve was sure his jaw had dropped to the floor. The way you moved was bewitching, beautifully languid yet articulate. It was like the music moved through you, coursing through your veins as you made it entirely your own, bringing something so utterly delicate and ethereal out of the melody. You made it show in your body, in your movements.

The first of your quads were coming up, something called a quadruple lutz. Steve didn't know what it was, but when you threw your leg back and jumped, spinning in the air before landing and the crowd erupted into applause, he figured you did it correctly.

Your feet glided across the ice as you skated backward, your muscles tensing—you were preparing for your next quad. You kicked your leg back and used it as momentum to jump, spinning and landing what the commentator called a quadruple flip. The crowd cheered again.

Your expression—the raw focus and determination hiding behind your eyes—was gorgeous. Your crimson lips were parted slightly, eyelids hooded as you brought your head up. The delicate expression, the way your shoulders tensed as you jumped and spun in the air once, twice, three times before you landed gracefully on your toes had the breath leaving his lungs.

It was art. You were a work of art. So beautiful he wanted to lock you behind a glass cage and put you on display. You commanded the ice as if you controlled it, with such a degree of intricacy that Steve thought if you jumped high enough or spun fast enough you would grow wings and fly away.

You were in your element. You kicked your foot back before bringing it forward, using it to start your jump. You spun in the air and landed on one foot, your other leg spread out and leading the twirl you used to end the jump. The stadium cheered, Sam said something about a triple axel.

Steve wished the song lasted forever, wished he could watch you forever, but soon there was a flute trilling and you slowed, circling back to the center of the rink and just like that—your performance was over. The crowd exploded into cheers, throwing flowers, stuffed toys, anything they had in their pockets.

You broke into a smile, your plump lips parting and bringing out your dimples. Steve swooned as you waved to the crowd, bending to pick up a rose. Your gaze met his, and he swore he felt fireworks erupt in his chest. You smiled at him before skating off the ice, hugging a man sporting a red lightweight jacket with the USA logo embroidered on the sleeve, his dark hair slicked back. Steve watched as you smiled at him, not missing the way he stared at your ass as you turned away.

Then, suddenly, you were in first place. Your eyes went wide and you jumped up, hugging the man in the red jacket—Steve assumed he was your coach. He heard your squeal above the rest of the cheers.

Even from where he was sitting, your eyes were bright, brighter than your smile. Steve was proud of you, pride swelled in his chest as he watched you speak with a reporter. His eyes stayed glued to you as you shook hands with the reporter, your coach walking you to the locker rooms. He watched you until he couldn't anymore.

A strange desire pulled at his heart as he pulled his Stark Pad out, looking you in F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s database.

--

After watching your performance every other skater seemed dull, incomparable, to you. The judges must have thought so, too. You stayed in first place, winning the competition.

According to F.R.I.D.A.Y, you grew up in Chicago, but you moved to Manhattan for college. You got a new coach, Adrian Tucker, who was a gold and silver medalist back in the nineties. You're a junior at NYU, majoring in Art History. You have an Instagram, some sort of social media Peter had been trying to convince him to get, and Steve created an account immediately just to follow you. You had pictures of yourself, of friends, of the rink, even a pair of ballet shoes.

So you did ballet, good to know.

The award ceremony couldn't come soon enough. The idea of being closer to you sent butterflies fluttering through his stomach. Ever since he had gotten him back, Steve and Bucky have been talking about settling down—creating a life with a girl and starting a family. But they haven't found the right partner, but maybe. . . ?

When he stood in front of you, he swore he almost stopped breathing. You were gorgeous. Your hair had been taken out of the bun, cascading down your shoulders in loose waves. Your makeup was still done the same, but he noticed light freckles dotting along the bridge of your nose. Your eyes sparkled up at him—good God, you barely stood past his chest—your painted lips parted in a smile as you took him in. He placed the gold medal around your neck, congratulating you. You whispered a small, "thank you, Captain," and Steve felt a spark of electricity jolt down his groin.

Your voice was light, melodic, quiet. You were respectful, something he valued in people, in women. He could almost imagine you posed as the perfect housewife. With the perfect husband—or husbands—with the white picket fence, the kids. He could imagine your belly swollen, the little children running around calling you 'mama'. You were young, right at that age where women would start becoming wives and mothers back in his day. The thought only made his cock harder as he watched you on the platform, waving to the audience with the biggest smile on your face.

As he sat back down next to Sam, he pulled his phone out of his pocket. He pulled up Bucky's contact and sent him a picture from your Instagram.

'I think I found her,' he typed.

--

Bucky remembered the first time he realized he was in love with Steve—he was sixteen. He had danced around with plenty of girls already but none of them ever really seemed to stick. He had saved up enough money to spend Steve's birthday at Coney Island, that was the day he made Steve ride the Cyclone, back when he was still skinny. He had bought Steve a hotdog, which a pelican attacked him over. Bucky was crying from laughter, face red and stomach aching, when he looked over at Steve. Something just clicked then.

The past couple of months, Steve and Bucky had been making plans to add a third partner into life. After all this time, fighting Nazis and being mind-controlled and saving the universe time and time again, they both agreed they deserved it—that they deserved a family. They had both been selfless for so long, was it so wrong to want someone to be selfless for them? To want someone soft that could share their love?

Steve and Bucky were great together—the love of each other's lives, in fact—but they shared an overwhelming need to dominate, to control. On and off the field. When they fucked they were ruthless, full of scraping nails and biting teeth. Fingertips that left bruises that lasted for days. They needed someone else, someone they could focus that control on, someone who could take them so gently and lovingly, a way they rarely took each other.

Then he got Steve's text. You were young, and it wasn't hard to find out almost everything he needed to know about you. Steve helped him use F.R.I.D.A.Y to figure out where you live—a small apartment that was close to your college campus. You could walk to class if the weather permitted it. It also wasn't too far from the ice rink you trained at. It was easy for Bucky to find a building across from your suite where they could watch you. You liked to keep your window open, let the sunlight in.

They took turns sitting on the roof of the neighboring building, looking through a pair of binoculars. They would watch you for hours—watch you do simple things like reading. That was Bucky's favorite, the way your lips moved ever so slightly as you read the words on the page. You enjoyed reading horror novels—Steven King, Mary Downing Hahn, an author named Chuck Palahnuik. A worn copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein sat on your bookshelf. At first glance, Bucky never would have pegged you as a horror kind of girl, you were too sweet and too timid. As he continued to watch you through the cameras Steve had him install, though, he saw that you very much liked psychological thrillers. You would watch a show on YouTube about true crime and haunted locations, a couple of amateurs who didn't quite know what they were doing. They were funny, though. Steve and Bucky would watch you laugh as you stared at your phone, smiling to yourself.

You trained at a ballet studio in lower Manhattan, worked out at a gym a block away from that. They were quick to memorize your routine once they started. You'd wake up at five-thirty every morning and make yourself some breakfast. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday's you hit the gym and the studio; you'd go to whatever classes you had that day, grab a coffee at the campus cafe, then head to the skating rink for two hours. Two and a half hours max. You went home, studied, and then you were left to your own devices. Sometimes you read, sometimes you baked and God, Bucky almost couldn't stop drooling at the thought of tasting your cooking. You'd watch television in your small living room and be in bed no later than eleven o'clock every night to start your day again.

One Monday morning, Steve and had followed you to the gym. They'd been doing that the last few weeks. At first, Steve reasoned it was so they could watch over you, in case you got into some trouble. Some mornings they planned on running into you on the sidewalk, pretending it was an accident—there was a flower cart along your route you liked to stop and admire, sometimes buying a bouquet of daisies for your little bachelor pad—but the timing never seemed right. Steve was never wearing the right shirt, or Bucky's hair was always a mess from the wind.

You took a cab, which Steve followed a couple of cars behind on his motorcycle. The air was brisk, the first signs of spring coming into the city. Some of the trees had started growing their leaves again, vibrant greens against the grey winter sky. He parked his bike underneath a plotted tree that had just started to turn, the tips of the leaves a bright green as blossoms began to bloom, pastel pinks against vibrant greens with petals blowing in the wind. He bought a newspaper from a vendor a couple of stores down and sat on a nearby bench, catching up with the world as he counted down the minutes. You would be in there for an hour and fifteen minutes almost exactly.

Steve almost couldn't sit still. He was itching to get his hands on you, to feel you. He and Bucky have been watching you for a long time now, waiting for the right moment to get their hands on you. Steve was growing impatient.

At forty-five minutes, his eyes began to flick up at the building every few minutes. He knew it wasn't time yet, but there was always a chance you got done early.

At an hour, his gaze hovered just above the paper. Ten more minutes, he told himself.

At an hour and twelve minutes, you emerged. Steve watched as you hugged your coat to your chest and began walking. The studio you danced at was only a block away, so you wouldn't have to be out in the cold for long. Still, Steve couldn't help but chastise you for not wearing something warmer. All you had on were a pair of thin leggings—that hugged your ass beautifully, he might add—and a compression tank top under your lightweight sweater.

Steve rushed to his bike, folding the newspaper in his hand and revving up the engine. He drove down the block, parking in front of a cafe across from the ballet studio. He watched you enter the studio and sat at a table, ordering a cup of coffee. He saw you through the floor-to-ceiling windows, your let stretched up over your head. He reached for his sketchbook and pencil, laying it out on the table before him.

The night of the Olympics, the first time after Steve had seen you, he stayed up all night drawing you. He found a video of your performance on the internet, watching it on repeat as he drew you in different positions. The first sketch he did was of you with your arm over your head, just before you started skating. He found he loved drawing the shape of your lips, so the next sketch was a portrait of your face. Your long lashes were hooded, eyes downcast and your lips parted slightly as the pencil scratched against the paper, your plump lips etched in charcoal. The expression Steve caught you in was oddly ethereal, the kind of innocence that Steve found absolutely breathtaking.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Steve sighed, pulling the device out of his jeans. Cursing, he reread the message Sam sent, looking back up across the street. You were still in front of the window, leg propped up on a bar with your upper body reaching for your foot. He sighed, closing his sketchbook as he stomped toward his bike.

--

Steve and Bucky trudged back into the Compound, exhausted and irritated. Not only have they been unable to see you for a week and a half, forced to watch you through the cameras hidden throughout your apartment, but the mission had been a complete bust. They had been sent away to Northern Peru, where Fury had given them intel about a group of HYDRA smugglers shipping illegal weapons into the country. Unfortunately, Steve and Bucky spent twelve days in a cramped, boiling building across from the target's warehouse and managed to find nothing before Fury called them back.

Steve was sweaty, Bucky hadn't taken a shower in a week, and they missed you. Bucky wanted to touch you, he wanted to kiss you until you were breathless. He watched you on his phone when he could, often opting to watch the camera feed than to sleep.

Once they were in their suite, Steve stripped his uniform off, leaving it in a heap on the floor to pick up later. Right now he just wanted to feel clean. He turned the shower on and peeled his boxers off as Bucky undressed, Steve stepping below the showerhead. The warm water felt nice against his taut muscles, his shoulders relaxing under the water pressure. He watched the dirt and grime from the mission get washed away, down the drain in muddy-grey color.

As he massaged shampoo through his hair, his thoughts wandered back to you, fingers itching to run against your skin. The way your lips always looked so soft, how utterly delicious you would look with them wrapped around his cock. The sweet little noises you would make as he forced himself down your throat—you were so small, it wouldn't take much to make you choke on him.

Steve groaned as his fist wrapped around his length. Almost two weeks without imagining you on your knees, imagining your mouth on him and he was oh so sensitive. He cursed, running his thumb over his slit. He pictured your tongue dragging against his girth, your wrecked expression as you struggled to take him deeper, as Bucky struggled to fit himself in behind you. He fisted himself faster, gasping out your name.

"Yeah, baby," he mumbled to himself. "Just like that. Fuck."

He could only imagine how beautiful you would look when you came. Your skin sweaty, hips bucking, your innocent little eyes rolling to the back of your head as you squealed. Oh, you were definitely a squealer. They would make you cum over and over and—

He bit back a moan as he came, hot white spurts coating his stomach as he slowed his movements, nerves on fire. He sighed, rinsing himself off before he turned the water off. He was still hard, he wasn't sure he'd be able to get himself off.

The tips of his fingers buzzed as he redressed himself and Bucky hopped in the shower. Steve didn't know if it was the stress of the mission or the adrenaline you gave him, but he couldn't wait anymore. He didn't have the patience to wait anymore.

He was watching the camera feeds in your apartment when Bucky came out of the bathroom. All it took was one look from Steve—they already had it all planned out, they just had to put it into motion.

--

You struggled to unlock your door, twisting the key in the lock a few times, cursing as you pushed your shoulder against the door, stumbling as the door swung open. You managed to catch yourself before knocking over your vase of daisies, straightening as you waited for your world to stop spinning.

You knew it had been a bad idea when you agreed to go out tonight. You're such a lightweight and after just three shots and half a glass of wine, you're going to have a killer hangover in the morning. God, and it's three a.m. But Annie had begged you to come with them. You haven't hung out with her in so long, you were desperate to see her again. You just wished she hadn't dragged you out to a bar.

You dropped your handbag on your little dining room table, opening the refrigerator to pour yourself a glass of orange juice. You drank half the glass in a couple of gulps, letting out a sigh as you set the glass down. As you moved to pull your phone out of your purse, you heard the floorboards creak, like someone was taking a step.

You froze, looking down the hall. The boards in your bedroom creak like that when you step down on a certain spot, but you've been in the apartment long enough to learn where it is exactly and step around it.

As quietly as you could, you made your way down the hall, checking the bathroom. You've seen enough horror movies in your life to know never to close the shower curtain when you weren't using it, so with a quick glance you knew the room was empty.

Your bedroom was at the end of the hall, the door cracked open. You walked in, carefully looking around. Your closet door was open, the windows were closed, you turned and looked towards your dresser mirror and—

You saw the figure behind you before you could react. Your eyes went wide, their hand coming up to cover your mouth before you could muster a scream. Your hands flew up to the hand, legs kicking out as the intruder dragged you out of your bedroom. You screamed into the hand, thrashing as you felt a sharp prick in your neck.

"It's alright," they cooed. "Shhh, it's okay, doll. You're just gonna go to sleep for a little while, okay?"

You shook your head frantically, tears streaming down your face as you felt your body getting tired. You blinked furiously, trying to fight the sleepy feeling. Your muscles felt like dead weight, you stopped kicking your feet as your grip on the man's cold hand went slack.

"That's a good girl," he crooned. "Just relax, kitten. I'm not gonna hurt you."

Your tongue felt heavy in your mouth. Your vision blurred, and then everything went black.

[gemtail]

Character Status and Predictions as Of Today’s Episode (minor spoilers for chapter 5)

Team rwby Ruby: Woot woot! Our heroine got some TV time! She’s famous!... She’s also about to get traumatized. She’ll survive at least, right?

Weiss: Hey, guys! Her story line is coming to a close! How exciting!... she may or may not have anymore family after this. Welp... at least she’s got her team... I think?

Blake: Good kitty girl letting the team cuddle up to her! Extra pets for her! Might be seeing her dad again if he comes to help... or he might witness her die.

Yang: Houston, we have a problem. Oh, right, we can’t contact houston! Welp... Mantle is more fucked than she thought. She’s now facing a problem her fists might not be able to solve.

Team JNR

Jaune: Same boat as Yang.

Ren: His emotional break down has been interrupted by Ruby’s broadcast and now he’s back to the weather which appears to be cloudy with a 100% chance of grimm and this just in! Chances of flooding in Mantle are also about 90% and this water is black... So ya know, no more time to be mad at the fact that he’s and co are huntsman. Major death flags.

Nora: Close to death but in recovery. About to have some badass scars though! She’ll survive for now... But just in case: death flags.

The rest of the Schnee Family

Jacques: In jail where he belongs. He can stay there. Death flags.... death flags everywhere and well deserved.

Whitley: Can’t decide if he wants to be scum like daddy dearest or ask one of the women in his family for a hug... There’s still chance for redemption, boy! Go ask Weiss for forgiveness and hug it out!... or stubbornly don’t do that and wait for her to save your ass. Also death flags but he’s got the set up for redemption.

Ironwood’s real puppe- I mean, er... Winter: About to find out if her old friend is alive and if she is, force her to do something she doesn’t want to do. Iron daddy will make everything better, right? Likely will have to choose between her sister and Iron daddy.

Team STRQ:

Summer: Better off dead at this point instead of the new fan theories people are making about her and the hound.

Tai: Worried sick. Raven’s semblance would be very nice right now. Might come over if Raven is asked nicely?

Raven: Has no good excuse to sit this out unless she’s either still too chicken or she and Tai made up but forgot to use protection again and has another one in the oven. I really hope she comes in later as a pleasant surprise.

Qrow: Still mourning his would have been husband. Might escape jail either because Robyn rolls high on charisma with Harriet or Watts rolls high on intelligence.

Ironwoods other puppe- Ace Ops! I mean Ace Ops!

Harriet: In denial about her master. This hare can’t figure out if she wants to shake hands with the Robyn or not. About to force a downed comrade into doing something she disagrees with. Death flags...

Vine: Hard to say other than that he’s about to force a downed comrade into doing something she disagrees with. Who’s the puppet again? Death flags...

Elm: Same as Vine. Death flags

Marrow: Good boy misses his friends but currently still likes the taste of boots... but they’re starting to get a bad taste... right? Right? Currently Iron daddy’s bitch like his coworkers... *sigh* Also *heavy sigh* death flags...

Cinder and Co

Cinder: Bratty kid who’s only using Salem for her own gain. That’s playing with fire, girl. She’s gonna get it if Emerald and Neo take her back to mama Salem... and when Salem finds out. Something tells me she’s gonna take her anger out on Emerald for this loss since her semblance, the only thing Cinder likes about her, was useless...

Emerald: Poor girl just wants to protect her girlfriend... still doesn’t understand that it’s totally one sided. Her ‘girlfriend’ isn’t going to be happy with her for simping too hard.

Neo: Only here to avenge her boyfriend and then leave. Got beaten up by a grandma instead. Doesn’t quite understand she’s a scapegoat yet but probably will in a bit.

Others

Ironwood: Permitted someone access to the inside of an innocent girl’s head. Ironically paralleling Qrow in entrusting someone evil to help him out... probably won’t end well for him, either. Also Ironically allowed Amity to go up but didn’t do anything to help or protect Penny. Like wtf, man?! More like General Asshole, am I right? Currently getting played like a fiddle.

Penny: Has someone inside her who is about to probably make her do things she doesn’t want to do... like kill people and forfeit the relic. You did great, sweetie! I hope Watts dies for what he’s about to do to you! Death flags or wreck flags.

Watts: About to force an innocent girl into doing something she doesn’t want to do. Well deserved death flags for that... also, Salem won’t need him after this. Hey, Harriet! Give him an extra punch in the face for us!

Hazel: JUSTICE IS BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF KIDS SO OZPIN WON’T KILL ANYMORE KIDS! NOT A HYPOCRITE AT ALL! Back burner villain otherwise.

Salem: Proud of Ruby for giving the world a wonderful presentation about her. And Tyrian is Mr. Bigglesworth to her. Ozpin being into dominant women confirmed.

Tyrian: Salem’s current pet confirmed.

Mercury: Likely will be that asshole that says ‘I told you so!’ to Emerald if Cinder does turn out to chew her ass for ‘failing’ her (AKA; being too much of a simp). I may want this boy to have a chance at redemption but I will applaud anyone who hits him if he reacts that way. Back burner villain for now, too... *sigh*

Oscar: Getting beat up by an angry and very buff old man... poor kid. He needs help *eyes Emerald and Neo*

Ozpin: ‘You’re doing great, sweetie!’ he says to his current human meat shield- er... vessel.

Maria: Baddest grandma in existence! Here to kick ass and take names! Bad children get granny’s scythe to the face! Has death flags but will probably survive this.

Pietro: Doing about as well as any father in his situation. Has death flags... either due to falling out of the sky via Amity or due to giving his life to salvage Penny. Your work here is done for now, old man. You did great!

Robyn: still waiting for that handshake but failed her charisma check.... just barely though. BONUS

Gheera: DON’T WORRY, BLAKE! DADDY’S COMING! Currently amassing an army in Mistral.

Ilia: DON’T WORRY, BLAKE! DADDY’S COMING! Joining the army in Mistral.

Sun and Neptune: Dude...

[bleached-d-soul]

Team ALAN: Lovely In-CON-veniences

Part 3 of Team ALAB commissions for @the-hapless-ace

This was a mistake.

When you join a terrorist organization, you have to learn how to sense danger before it occurs. You either learn to do it early or have to learn from experiences, sometimes not without the loss of some limbs and sanity. Adam should have know that when Ruby burst into their room with that creepy smile of hers, he should have run and hidden for a week or two.

The Vale Comic Con was an event not unknown to Adam, if only because he once considered it as a potential target for White Fang attack. And no, it wasn't because of the overwhelming amount of Ninja Catgirl cosplayers there. He simply hated the fetishism with reagrds to the faunus. Rehardless of that, he absolutely refused to go.

Unfortunately, he owed Weiss a date of her choosing. And just like the real Schnee, she refused to suffer alone.

"Oh my Gods, can we please take a picture?"

The decision came last moment. And since |Ruby refused to allow him to go there in his normal clothes, he had to make do with whatever stuff he had lying around. His old cloak without the rose emblem. His old mask without color marks. And of course, the black wig provided to him by Blake. Apparently, his ex couldn't miss the chance to get some laughs out of it.

"You look just like the Joker!"

"The clown?"

"No, from Persona series!"

"Ah, right."

He had no idea who that was. In a couple of moments, thankfully, that humiliation was over. Before he could get back to Weiss to give her another piece of his mind though, another couple of girls approached him. More pictures? Fine, whatever got that off his back.

"Can you take a rose from my hands with your mouth?"

Sure, whatever. Quickly, he did as asked. The girl ran away squealing.

"Can you cover your eyes with your hands, please?"

She did promise him to leave quickly so why not. The girl wandered off smiling.

"Can I sit in your lap?"

"Yeah, su-"

The ground shook. The air around them dropped a few degrees in temperature before the wall of ice separated him from the surprisingly large crowd of women. Were they under attack? Finally! Some chance to escape this madhouse and-

"Adam. Taurus."

The chilling and emotionless tone pierced through the air, his eyes drawn towards the source of it. Surrounded by ice and snow, in the middle of the hall stood none other than his girlfriend. And she was absolutely burning with rage, if only the giant Knight of white and blue looming over her was any indication.

"I leave for a few seconds and you are feeling up some other girls?"

What?

"I didn't do anything like that!" Was it really how it looked? He was just trying to get them off his back. It was either caving in to their demands or cutting them down. And it was her and Ruby that explicitly forbade him from killing the people he found annoying. "You know this is not my fault, right?"

Something clicked in Weiss' eyes. The semblance of clearance and understanding that promised him the peaceful resolution and the quiet for the rest of this already unpleasant and annoying day.

That promise died an ugly death as the girl's eyes lost any and all light and her lips stretched into an ugly smile.

One that promised only bloodshed and death.

"You are right... This is not your fault at all."

Good, maybe things weren't so bad.

"It is all these harlots that want you!"

...

Shit.

ALAB

"Yang, are you angry at me?"

"No."

"You look angry."

"I don't."

"Your hair is on fire and your eyes are burning red."

"And?"

Ren looked at his girlfriend's face, wondering what he should say. What he could even say when faced with this angry pout of hers. In many ways. Yang was just as emotionally broken as he was. She hid her abandonment issues and insecurities behind the cocky attitude and pride much like he hid his anger and pain behind the stoic and serene attitude.

But no matter how much they masked their fears and insecurities, those still existed and sometimes came to the surface in the most unfortunate of times. Just like their current situation.

"Sorry for getting us kicked out of that contest," Yang said as they sat down in a nearby cafe. It was a nice place and, thankfully, with only a few people. It was pretty early right now so most attendees must have been stuck buying merch and meeting all the celebrities that were here today. "I know I could have handled that... better than I did."

That was one way to put it.

Ren had little reservations about his body. And even though he was embarrassed with the outfit Yang picked for him, he grew comfortable with it very quickly. Yang herself said she wanted to show off her boyfriend's amazing body in that skintight outfit that consisted of only a shirt that covered his chest and a tight pair of shorts. And she did enjoy the jealous and hungry looks thrown his way.

For a total of ten minutes before she started frantically looking for something to cover him with.

She found nothing and so spent the last hour or so glaring at every woman that passed them by. It was fine, Ren told himself. Glaring and growling was fine as long as things didn't become physical. They eventually did, mostly because he couldn't help himself. Ren rarely indulged in things like video games or junk food like his friends. But when the chance to get the next edition of his favorite game came, he simply couldn't let this chance pass him by.

So he signed up even though Yang wasn't interested and got ready to win. It was all good and great for the first two stages. He was in the lead and, by the looks of it, would be coming home with the prize in his hand.

Then the third stage announced was the couple game. And unfortunately, for all the single ladies and gentlemen, they were paired up with random contestant. It was clear the stage was meant to see who could adapt the fastest and give the most coherent performance. He was lucky to draw the second strongest contestant for himself.

Who turned out to be Neon, the girl Yang fought just a few days ago.

He could have sworn he heard something snap. And when he looked at Yang... Well, he told himself she wouln't do anything drastic in the open.

And for the first few minutes, he was actually right. Their dance was energetic and synchronized, him acting as the strong and solid foundation for Neon's more flashy and bright moves.

The music came to an end, the crowd exploded with claps and whistles. They were going to win, for sure. That game was as good as his!

Then Neon delivered a loud and sharp slap across his ass.

And next thing he knew, the dancing contest turned into a huge catight.

"Ren?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you angry at me?"

"No."

"You look... Well, I never can tell but I would be angry if I were you."

"I am not though," a little bit upset. But not angry. "Plus, I am sure you are not going to-"

She was gone.

He turned to look at the trail of blazes left behind. The sound of an all too familiar laugh of one rollerblading huntress was the proof enough his day was about to become much louder and hotter.

ALAB

Mercury loved to drive the little Red crazy.

Call him an asshole but there was something incredibly satisfying about watching the girl so confident on the battlefield turn into a blushing stammering mess. Sometimes he would kiss her out in the open or flirt with her during the spar. She looked so cute when she was trying to take his head off with that scythe of hers while burning red as her cape.

Today was an exception, though.

Today it was him on the other end of the stick.

"C-Come on, Red, be reasonable here, please?" He was backed against the wall, the passers-by either ignoring them or taking pictures. Something about real-life Yandere of whatever the fuck those nimrods were whispering about. "R-Ruby, I swear to Gods, stay away from me with that marker!"

She dressed up as some superhero named... Flasher or whatever, he didn't pay much mind. He did, however, take the opportunity to show off his assets and get the girl all hot and bothered under that skintight suit of hers. Seriously, for the girl with so many reservations and social troubles, she seemed unaware of how many guys threw horny looks her way.

He did. And now those guys stayed far away from her.

Apparently, she was not as oblivious as he thought and noticed all the lustful and hungry looks. But only the ones that came from other girls towards him. Which brings us back to him, backed into the corner with his girlfriend trying to mark him of all things!

"I will be quick, Mercury, I promise!"

"That's a permanent marker, Ruby!"

"I am sure we can remove it later!"

"This doesn;t make it better!"

In hindsight, it was all his fault. He should have chosen something that could be actually zipped up. Instead he went dressed as this emo ninja with weird eyes powers who dressed like a stripper. And now Ruby wanted to write her name on his chest like some toy.

Sounded kinky but it wasn't!

"I will buy a bunch of strawberry cookies a-!"

"No!" She yelled, covering her ears. "You can't bribe if I can't hear you!"

An opening to exploit! Yes!

He rushed past her and into the crowd. Maybe he could snatch someone's cape or something? Before he could rob some poor sucker, the torpedo of rose petals smashed into him from behind. Positioning herself on the top of his stomach, Ruby showed no hesitation or shame as she breathed down his neck.

With the eyes full of the terrifying emotion and her smile so hollow it sent chills down his smile, Ruby whispered:

"Now they all will know you are mine and only mine!"

Her marker stabbed into his chest like a knife, marking him as her property and lover.

Somehow, he didn' feel so scared about it.

"Now let's go and show them all that you are mine!"

... And now he was.

ALAB

"Go and tell her she is ugly."

"I am not doing that."

"Fine, then the collar stays on."

"Ugh..."

Out of his entire team, Jaune was possibly the only one excited to come here. He never attended one of the major conventions since, well, his town didn't have any and he barely had the money to come here. So when Ruby won the total of eight passes here, he was ready to kiss her! Well, not really, since she was dating Mercury and that was violation of a bro code.

Also because he also had a girlfriend whom he liked a lot

Even if she could become a bit... possessive.

"Come on, this doesn't even make any sense for me to wear a collar! I am Leon Kennedy!" And Leon Kennedy was a badass that could never stay caught for that long. "Also Ada uses a giant crossbow and your weapon looks nothing like that."

"I don't give a shit, it was the costume the guy in the store recommended," Vernal scoffed as she tugged on his leash. Her eyes scanned the crowd like an expert predator. She saw a couple of nerds drooling over how tight the pants hugged her legs and ass. Heh, good time jerking off, losers. Then her eyes caught some girls drooling over how tight Jaune's pants hugged his ass and legs.

...

They would have to go. Not now, of course. Her boyfriend always got upset whenever she threatened other girls with violence, Gods know why though.

"V-Vernal, where are we going?"

"Just shut up and follow me, loverboy."

Vernal might have lived in Beacon now but she still lived by the laws of her tribe. And the law of the strong was simple back home: See. Want. Take.

The last part - about putting down anyone who tried to take something from you - was an unspoken rule, of course. Back in the tribe, it was the strongest who got the best food and stuff. Not because they were better at scavenging and stealing, but rather because they knew how to take something from others better. And Vernal knew that, if she allowed even one of the girls here approach her boyfriend, she would give everyone the signal she was soft.

Not happening.

"And now for the second place in our couples costu- Hey, ma'am, you are not supposed to-Oh! Wait, not in the face! Not in the face!"

The silence fell over the crowd.

All eyes were on them,

Vernal took the mic.

Jaune covered his face.

"Alright, listen up, all of you! I know that most of you here are losers with nothing better to do than dress up as leather-clad morons and bitches and think you are cool because you watched some Mistralian cartoons with lots of yelling. I also know that at least eighty per cent of you are fucking virgins desperate to get some and watching some camgirls dress up like your favorite cartoon girls drives you nuts," she ignored the death glares thrown her way. Jaune yelped as Vernal dragged him up and planted a deep wet kiss on his lips, invading his mouth with her tongue for the crowd to see. "Having said that, neither me nor MY boyfriend here are as lame you all. And if I see any of you bitches looking at my fucking man, remember-"

She spread her arms, showing her toned body for people to drink in.

"- this is what he enjoys every night. Remember that before looking at him next time!"

Vernal dropped the mic.

Then she grabbed him by the collar and began passionately marking him as hers.

Regardless of that, Jaune would cry as he would later find out he was banned from this convention for the foreseeable future.

Just like the rest of his and RWBY teams.

[kob131]

Hey remember when Soku said he was gonna stop talking about RWBY?

Guess who got caught lying?

https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/184748210112/phazonfire-the-rwde-tag-is-so-fucking

I don’t know what tag you’re looking through about the homophobia thing considering the majority of the people seem to be gay and would probably call you out if they saw this.

I don’t remember you guys ever calling anyone out for calling Illa a ‘psycho lesbian’ because villain + gay = psycho lesbian apparently.

Oh wait, which tag is it that says that? hm...

Look people doing rewrites on the series is a non problem, and the dumbest gripe.

so is 99% of what you fuckers pull. Like bitching that a catgirl was put into a catsuit.

But rwby isn’t well written some is allowed to watch it to fix it to reconstruct or deconstruct it there is no harm to this and the series could benefit from a rewrite.

Too bad you assholes break the show EVEN FURTHER when you do rewrite shit *cough* RE:RWBY *cough*.

If you don’t like it don’t go through the constructive criticism tag just to cry cause someone doesn’t wanna kiss rwby’s butt like you do.

Last time constructive criticism existed in the RWDE tag: 900 BC.

Yeah sure.

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https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/612590859661295616/your-idea-of-nit-picking-is-not-the-correct-use-of

I don't know how to tell some of ya'll that just because you constantly argue against criticism and the other person gets tried to talking to a brick wall doesn't mean you win.

This ain't your preschool, this requires critical thinking skills which some of ya'll clearly lack.

And just because you reject facts and demand that your delusions are true doesn’t make the other person a brick wall. You just don’t understand how to debate.

Your idea of nit picking is not the correct use of the term. Nor do whoever you are know what is and isn’t criticism on a subject. 

Nit picking. Noun. “looking for small or unimportant errors or faults, especially in order to criticize unnecessarily.“

Literally all you do.

Also I’m only an asshole to people who are assholes back. So don’t pretend like you know me and mind your own? Deal? Deal.

Sorry Soku, that makes you a sexist, racist, transphobic Nazi. You know, since that’s MY Modius Operandi.

Also your blog is FILLED with bad political takes so you’re  the LAST person I wanna hear tall about “not picking”

“Can white people approiate basic human decency?”

Remember that take on your old blog?

Now what were you saying about politics...

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https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/611875463897497600/i-didnt-watch-vol-7-thank-god-but-a-friend-of

I didn’t watch vol 7 thank god,-

So you have no idea what you’re about to say? Got it.

but a friend of mine on my discord mentioned flynt and neon returning (with Ik finally) and boy they really gave the catgirl a hoodie with cat ears on it? And Blake has a catsuit? Miles, Kerry, Shane and Monty always talked about how “subtle” they are with things like scenes and designs and they put both the catgirls in outfits that are so on the nose it might as well be a part of your skin.

Where was that said again?

Also that;s not were the term catsuits come from.  It comes from cat burglars using them.

Isn’t that like going “Hey black guy put these big lips on over your other lips? Or the black guy having a fucking basketball printed on their jacket?” Good lord, in a world where people can be born with cat ears, and tails don’t you think it’s kinda freaking disgusting that these exist where humans can wear them? 

And before you say that’s the point, in a world where none of the faunus get to say how they feel about these things and don’t have real life minority reactions to things like white dudes walking around with grills and fros and crap it kinda isn’t when the faunus girl wears a hoodie depicting one of the features of her own race that they were hunted down and slaughtered for.

Considering that it’d be no different than a white person getting cornrows-

Also it kind of is since black people walk around emphasizing their DARK SKIN, which is the basis of their discrimination.

You’re just race obsessed.

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https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/611637391064694784/hmm-funny-that-the-rich-white-girl-who-was-racist

Hmm funny that the rich white girl who was racist gets an overpowered semblance that shares alot of feats like her team like being able to make runes that increase speed, Platforms, Remove gravity, shoot projectiles, Make people stick to them etc etc. Oh and she has the ability to summon monsters that show feats of strength that rivals one of her partners.

Meanwhile the minority character is shown to fuck up alot, gets treated like shit and never gets an apology from said racist, get nerfed constantly, have her weapon poorly sautared back together while the rest of her team gets upgrades and has the weakest semblance of the three.

Seems alittle off white writers.

And who has the better fight record than the other?

... The minority?

Hm, seems off black complainer.

Oh did that sound racist? Hm, dunno why it sound considering you said the SAME THING

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https://sokumotanaka.tumblr.com/post/611636922643857408/so-let-me-get-this-straight-vol-7-has-ended-and

So Let me get this straight, vol 7 has ended and apparently they lost the one relic they had, still haven’t found the newer one or did but still have to deal with Ironwood and several others. Cinder is still alive, Neo is siding with her out of fear? When she wanted vengeance and could team up with rwby.

this is volume 7 of supposedly 10 so three more seasons and they still haven’t sat down and talked about what they’re supposed to to against the immortal grimm lady, they don’t know where the relic at beacon is and ozpin’s still ghosting them, and they’re foolishly gathering them all in one spot instead of taking the maiden and the relic and putting both of them on the farest corners of the planet? I thought they were going to atlas to meet with someone Weiss knew as the Anton Sokolov Play dishonored! of their world to build a rocket and send at least one rocket into a black hole and never have an issue with Salem again.

three more seasons and a plan hasn’t even been formed to deal with her or the relics, Emerald and Mercury are doing nothing, Cinder has no goal except to be the new adam and chase the heros and get her ass kicked, Hazel’s doing nothing, The comms are down and we haven’t heard a peep from whoever runs Vacuo, Blake and Ruby have still had barely any interaction, Weiss hasn’t apologized for her racism, We never addressed how and why did Raven appear in Yang’s dreams, Why did ren from shields over his hands and show off feats of strength that rival yangs or his weird ability to sense tyrian? Neo’s eyes changed color when she saw Raven and her teleport ability. Lore Like how semblance, Lien (the money that looks like credit cards but has zero numbers on it work) The examples of agriculture, Flora and Fauna, dust and so on.

A. Haven’t they said it’s more like twelve?

B. Nope, Ozpin’s back. But hey, who needs to actually KNOW what you’re talking about?

C. Can’t do that, don’t know where the Spring Maiden is. Would have known this if you watched Volume 6.

D. They never said that and expressly said they were meeting with Ironwood to get the relic somewhere secure. Gee, that’s the THIRD thing you’ve gotten wrong. Hm...

E.So Soku, how does Quirks affect agiculture? What were the original Quirks like? Who had the first Quirk? What was life like for people when Quirks were uncommon? Hm? Nothing is said?

MHA is shit, SOku said so.

But sure, three more seasons to cram that all in AND a plan and character interaction/Growth and so on, this is a lovely mess of a show.

And as you have shown, you paid attention to 0% of it so how would you know?

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So how’s that tar and feather treatment treating you Soku? Because I have so many more ways of humiliating you, happy showcase them as long as you open that bitchy little mouth of yours.

So go ahead and keep posting. It just lets me indulge my sadism without remorse.

[mystech-master]

So, let’s go through each of the BBTAG fights in the 4 o.g. story modes and see which ones are necessary for character stuff. I may not want to use a fight if there is another fight with the same characters I want to interact but doesn’t have a dumb joke assigned to it.

Now I know Tag Team means tag-in-tag-out stuff, but I am just going to look at these fights as two on two fights with a designated opponent for each fighter.

Episode Blazblue

Ragna and Rachel vs Waldstein and Linne: Initial fight so kind of necessary. Linne and Rachel having some banter, maybe Rachel being able to find out about Linne’s curse, meanwhile, you got Wald tossing around Ragna before Ragna goes Grim Reaper on his ass.

Ragna and Gordeau vs Ruby and Blake: 1. I like Ragna and Gordeau’s interaction, 2. Have members of RWBY learn of Gordeau and Ragna’s Soul Stealing Powers and 3. Really you can switch up who fights who, because with Ragna vs Ruby and Gordeau vs Blake you got similar color schemes, but the other way with Ragna vs Blake and Gordeau vs Ruby you got actual Sword vs Sword and Scythe vs Scythe.

Ragna and Chie vs Hakumen and Carmine: Obviously Ragna has to fight Hakumen and Chie against Carmine b/c Hakumen would CRUSH Chie, plus this is where Ragna could earn some point with the I.T. by helping Chie. Of course, since this is post-CS/Pre-CP Ragna he’s a bit more gruff, blunt and not as nice with it, but he’s still helping kind of. Kind of like how Shinjiro was with Minato (yes I use that name STFU), Yukari, and Junpei when they were about to get mugged in P3.

Ragna and Waldstein vs Kanji and Azrael: Like I said, ignoring this one. Dumb joke, no good interactions, and I prefer Ragna and Kanji’s interactions in Episode P4A.

Ragna and Nu-13 vs Aigis and Vatista: As much as I don’t want Ragna to suffer this, this is the only way for him to have any contact with Aigis, the Shadow Operative, so she can report it back to Mitsuru when this is all over.

Ragna and Noel vs Hyde and Linne: This meet up is necessary since this is where they talk about plot stuff, Ragna’s hostility here is understandable considering everyone before his was all like “LET’S FIGHT!” without using any brain cells. While it starts out hostile they do become more amicable over the course of the conversation.

Side note: I do like it when Ragna says Observer, of course either meaning an overseer or the Blazblue term as one who makes things reality by acknowledging them, and Linne sees the term as “Supervisor”. It’s just stuff like that in crossovers that I like, the clashing terminology and stuff.

Ragna and Hazama vs Weiss and Orie: Weiss and Orie becoming aware of Ragna’s bounty, thus allowing some tensions during later meet ups. Although IDK how this will affect Hazama trying to act all friendly with the other worlds when Weiss and Orie saw him all chumy with Ragna, plus if they later see both Ragna and Hazama activating their Blazblues, with the similar activation codes, and they learn that Hazama/Terumi made the Azure Grimoire, with Ragna’s being a prototype in a way. That might not work out for him.

I’m skipping the Es fights since IDK if I’d even add Es in this.

Episode P4A (most of these I feel like should be kept since this is the only fight where almost the entire faction all joins up)

Yu and Yosuke vs Gordeau and Carmine: initial battle, so necessary. Could be someone different, since these itneractions don’t really matter.

Yu and Chie vs Tager and Makoto: Electric vs Electric and fist vs foot, since I’m trying not to flanderize them, Makoto and Chie won’t immediatly be all “KUNG FU *WATCHYA*!” so I’d tone that down a bit considering the situation.

Yu and Yukiko vs Hakumen and Rachel: Like I said before, I’d like to see how Hakumen, and maybe Rachel, reacts to the Wild Card. Since in Arena, Yu’s Wild Card Power of Friendship aura made Elizabeth, aka the one who oneshots Erebus (the manifestation of mankind’s desire for Death) every other month, step back. So imagine how Hakumen, mr. Power of Order/killer of the Black Beast would react to that.

Yu and Chie vs Jubei and Platinum: Kind of wish Kanji was here since this is his intro in the episode, that and Platinum needs to get smacked, but making it a girl on girl fight is fine I guess. Then you have maybe Jubei’s reaction to the Wild Card and Yu’s truth powers (I wonder if the Orb of Sight could reveal Terumi’s true form like Jubei’s Sekigan?)

.....wait is Kanji just not playable b/c he was DLC at the time, okay then screw that noise.

Yu and Yosuke vs Linne and Orie: Okay Naoto has no excuse for not fighting here like Kanji excpet for maybe beign DLC at the time, so Yu and Naoto vs Linne and Orie. Come on seeing Orie’s Thanatos clash with a Persona would be cool. Or at the very least the Persona characters assuming she has a Persona, it wouldn’t be a stretch for them.

Yu and Ragna vs Weiss and Ruby: Should I keep this in? Since it is a moment where people call Ruby and Weiss idiots for blindly trusting System inspite of being the one who summoned them. Plus a lot fo stupid lines from Ruby. The ony thing this does is give Ragna a chance to prove himself to the I.T.

Ignoring Es fights like I said but I do want to keep the offscreen fight of Ragna and Kanii vs Hakumen and Rachel (Kanji’s lighting resistance against Rachel, HA!). Also they were playing Naoto’s theme from the Arena games at the time, so that was kind of off for me.

Episode Under Night In-Birth (half of these is just Hyde’s “Must Save The Girl” tendencies coming in)

Hyde and Waldstein vs Rachel and Naoto: No good interactiosn outside fo seeing how Hde and Wald fight as a team, like maybe Wald pulling a fastball special with Hyde.

Hyde and Ruby vs Yosuke and Chie: Stupid reason to start with Hyde thinking they were bullying Ruby when it was a mistake, and well all know that even if Ruby is like a year or two younger tha Hyde she’d kick his ass. But I know people want to have Ruby be amazed at the Insulator, but I won’t have her be all “YOU HAVE COOL WEAPONS! LET’S FIGHT!” Like I wanted RUby to have more of a personality, but this is too much.

Kind of a side note, but when Ruby brought up weapons with Jaune in Volume 1, she wasn’t all in his face about it immediately, they were apparently talking for a while before bring it up naturaly in a conversation. It felt more....real, to me.

Hyde and Gordeau vs Makoto and Blake: Only here for the Makoto and Blake interactions.

Hyde and Weiss vs Azrael and Carmine: no one here should be fighting with, against, or near Azrael. This is just here for Hyde to play knight in shining armor to Weiss. You Hyde/Ruby shippers might want this so he can earn points with Ruby for protecting her BFF.

Hyde and Yukiko vs Platinum and Noel. More bad cooking jokes, that all of a sudden make Yukiko good, but I think that’s just to make Noel the focus of the joke since this is BLAZBLUE Cross Tag Battle. More Hyde saving the girl in a way, but I’m slightly more for it since Platinum suffers. And hey, System said the losing TEAM had to eat it, so maybe Noel eating her own food can result in her getting better.

I mean seriously, Yukiko apparently got better at the end of her Social Link in Persona 4 (If I recall) and I THINK that there was one line about Fuuka improving in Arena or something (someone please help me on that, I know she gets better in P3P as part of her SL there, but I really don’t think one should cook, even if they like it, if they suck at it), taking that away from them is kind of insulting.

Hyde and Yu vs Jubei and Jin: Insulator vs Musashi (the swords that cut through anything) and Power of Friendship vs Power of Order. I got asked a while ago on what would happen if Isnulator and Musashi clashed and this would be a good chance to explore that. Plus Jubei seeing both the Wild Card and the Insulator would be interesting.

Also, Jubei with Jin goes with Blazblue canon, as at this point (between Cs and CP) Jubei is training Jin on the Power of Order).

Ignoring Es fight

Episode RWBY (this’ll be hard b/c I am TRYING to tone back the anime bullshit with RWBY)

Ruby and Weiss vs Noel and Makoto: System didn’t intervene here and they were just like “We have to fight over the Keystone”, considering RWBY’s themes of unity and such you’d think they’d try and be amicable, before System jumps in. Weiss could even TRY and be civil with the apparent Faunus in front fo them dressed rdiduclously (seriously IDK who else in RWBY during Vol 1-3 wears shit like Makoto who, as Kokonoe said in one of the HMPK segements “Is a strong breeze or a cough away from a major wardrobe malfunction”).

But still Weiss and Makoto on the front with Ruby and Noel as long range support wiht their guns.

I do think Weiss saying they should split up is dumb though.

Ruby and Hazama vs Hyde and Carmine: Alowing Hazama to get some connection with Ruby so he has someone to vouch for him at Beacon when/if he tries something there.

Ruby and Rachel vs Vatista and Platinum: Rachel landed on Ruby, gave her snark, because Platinum and Vatista were trying to ask her questions about the situation, Ruby is TRYING to be cool-headed and ask questions, but Rachel is being a butt and forms a tag team with Ruby just to shut Vatista and Platinum up. This could be used as a way to make Rachel seem untrustworthy.

side note, Vatista asks if she “should switch to a beefy, macho, muchle-type body...” So....can Vatista shapeshift? I mean we know she had an older looking form before she gave up one of her wings to give the Insulator to Kuon in UNI’s backstory. SO does that mean she doesn’t have to be a loli and maybe this form is just o conserve energy or something?

Ruby and Waldstein vs Hakumen and Tager: Hakumen attacks Ruby and Tager tries to intervene, Hakumen says smething interesting “This world may be jeopardized if elements from conflicting worlds interact” in this case Ruby and the keysone.

And like....seithr, ars magus, personas, EXS, and Dust and aura coliding WON’T cause things to fuck up? Especially Hakumen, who has kind of a messed up existence at the moment.

and whe Ruby brings up what Rachel told her, Hakumen gets all on the offense, once again maing Rachel seem untrustworthy. Or at the very least not willing to be cooperative.

Hakumen begins to do his thing but Wald pulls a Hyde and comes in to scold them for attacking a little girl.

I would like to see Hakumen sense the Silver Eye power lying dormant in Ruby, and then lay down some cryptic words here though.

Like comparing the Silver Eyes to the Power of Order is interesting b/c the SIlver Eyes work with love and protection, unlike the Power of Order which is mostly used as a weapon.

Ruby and Weiss vs Gordeau and Orie: scythe and scythe vs rapier and rapier.

1, Orie blowing her cover by saying she is with Licht Kreis, although given the circumstances I doubt that matters. Also she kind of fights on Hyde’s behalf for Ruby getting Hyde’s keystone, and speaking up when she heard his name.

2, Weiss being all too eagar to fight, IDK if this would be in character for canon Weiss.

3. Orie mentioned a restriction. Didn’t System just say there was a punishment? Is it both?

4. Once again Weiss being all too eager to mock and fight. But maybe she is in a bad mood because she has also been having to deal with neandertha;s who don’t care about the situation and are just like “FUCK YEAH, FIGHTING!”

5. Now I may not be too up to date on UNI’s Chornicle Mode, but I don’t know if Orie being THIS against working with Amneisa would be what she would be like.

6. Gordeau is being amicable, but him saying “hate the monk, not his robes”, makes it sound like he is still a member of Amnesia. But if I recall, he quit. Does him working for them as a mercenary count?

7. Orie saying she is devoted to her mission with her ego being secondary should be kept in mind when characters want to be major assholes and make demands of people instead of being nice.

Okay I’m done with that

Ruby and Es vs Yosuke and Yukiko: with that stupid Ninja and Geisha comment, plus I already said I was ignoring Es.....yeah I’m going to skip this and the next one, even though by that logic Ragna won’t meet Ruby. I can fidn some way for this to work, sionce Ragna saving Ruby gets him points with Yang and the RWBY characters.

Alright that seems to be all. Blake got a few fights in but no Yang. What fight would you guys want to see her in that I could add onto here?

[ezmodo]

Homesick

https://zaheela.tumblr.com/post/184554879691/ezmodos-request-of-a-lancaster-themed-picture

We're barely outside of the kingdom. Why is there no stinking signal?!

Ruby balanced near the end of the thickest branch she could find, leaning out dangerously as she held her scroll aloft.

“Miss Rose?” a voice called from somewhere down below.

Ruby moved further out on the branch, holding her scroll to the east this time. Still no signal.

“Miss Rose?” the voice called again, louder this time.

She wasn't technically a “Miss” or a “Rose” anymore, but she'd let it slide.

“Yeeeaaaah?” she responded, practically on her tip toes now as she waved her scroll to and fro to try to find any amount of reception. I need a bigger tree...

“Do you see any, um, Nevermore?” the girl asked, her voice closer than before.

Nevermore? What Nevermooooh crap, Ruby realized suddenly. That was the fib she fed the student before climbing up here however long ago, wasn't it.

Ruby peered down through the foliage and spotted the girl, a mouse Faunus diligently making her way up the tree. One of the students she'd been tasked to lead on their first field assignment, alongside...

The tree shook violently, wood snapping and cracking at its base. The mouse girl squeaked and hugged the trunk for dear life while Ruby balanced among the upper branches.

“Whatcha doin' up there, sis?” Yang shouted up, sweet voice dripping with restrained anger.

“R-Recon?” she offered, trying to keep the guilt out of her voice. “We were just about to head back to camp!”

“Good, good,” Yang said happily, cracking her knuckles. The student had climbed hastily back down and now stood a fair distance away from the brawler. “Because the rest of us were wondering what our leader was doing up in a tree for the LAST!”

Crack! Another powerful blow rocked the tree.

“HALF!”

Boom!

“HOUR!”

Ruby gulped. Busted. She tucked her scroll away and leapt from the tree, letting her semblance carry her quickly and safely to the ground. Going wide around her sister, Ruby landed next to her younger charge.

The girl had a finger pressed to a communicator in her ear, speaking softly to her team on the other end. “No, no Grimm. All clear here. We'll be back soon.”

Ruby offered her best smile as she brushed rose petals from the girl's shoulder. “Back to camp?”

The mouse Faunus' eyes darted nervously past Ruby's shoulder before offering a brisk nod and scurrying away back towards camp. Before Ruby could make her own escape, Yang's arm snaked around her shoulder and pulled her into a bone-breaking side hug.

“Look, Rubes, I get it,” Yang murmured compassionately, iron grip loosening. “They'll be fine. She'll be fine, you know that. But we need you here. These girls busted their asses so they could go on a mission with the Ruby Rose, you know?”

“I know.” Ruby let out a long sigh, hand resting on her hidden scroll.

They wanted Ruby Rose, but they had gotten Ruby Arc.

---

Ruby sat on the edge of camp, back resting against a stout tree as she stared at the contact on her scroll. Still no signal. She'd have to give up for tonight and hope for better luck tomorrow. They were only about half a day's walk away from their mission area, a small town on the edge of the forest. Maybe the village will have a range extender...

Clicking her tongue at the grayed out 'call' icon, Ruby expanded the photo she'd chosen for Jaune's contact. She'd taken it just two days ago, the day before she left with Yang and Team STRW. Ruby had spent the morning at Beacon meeting with Professor Goodwitch to go over mission specifics and expectations the headmistress had for the rookie team. Ruby called home afterwards to check in and Jaune had told her that they had just cleaned up and were about to start dinner.

She came home to her living room destroyed, a minefield of toys she had to navigate to make it to the couch where her two most favorite people rested. Her husband, dopey as ever, still had his scroll in hand with her contact pulled up. Cleaned up, huh, Ruby thought wryly, smirking at the trail of drool that leaked from the corner of his mouth.

On his chest, rising and falling with her father's steady breathing, slept her sweet little Primrose. Pumpkin Pete was clutched in her tiny fist, her constant companion for nap time. Her hair, gold like Jaune's (and equally unruly), was tinged with Ruby's own red. The girl looked so much like her father when she slept, but when awake you'd see her mother's silver eyes, bright and inquisitive, staring back at you.

Ruby found herself sighing for the umpteenth time that trip as she studied the picture of her family. Was it always going to be this hard? Jaune had gone on a few missions since Prim was born and he got teary every time he came home. He'd been a softie for years now and, sweet as it was, she teased him thoroughly for his tears. Now, though, she wasn't so sure she wouldn't do the same.

It's not like she was worried. They were back home on Patch, Prim probably already snug in her crib for the night. She just missed them. She missed tucking Prim in. She missed feeding her and burping her after. She missed reading her stories the baby didn't understand, she missed singing to her, she even missed changing her.

This was her first mission since Prim was born six months ago and only her second day away from home. Ruby already felt like she was losing it.

“Scootch over, mom.”

Ruby looked up to find Yang smiling down at her. She scooted over as requested, letting her big sister join her under the tree. Yang tousled her sister's hair on the way down and came to rest at Ruby's side, shoulder pressed to shoulder.

They sat there quietly as they watched two members of Team STRW build a fire. Tara, a fiery redhead, had their back to them. She gossiped endlessly at her partner. Sophie, the mouse Faunus who followed Ruby earlier, worked quietly, occasionally offering a mumbled response whenever the redhead paused to breathe. Ruby failed to notice the girl peering quietly at her through pale yellow bangs. The other two members of the team (whom Ruby, to her shame, didn't remember the names of) were making a sweep of the surrounding area for Grimm.

“Was Mom like this too?” Ruby murmured, stroking the face of her child on the screen.

Yang shrugged. “Probably. I'm pretty sure all moms are crazy at the start. It'll get better.”

“Mm.” Ruby didn't feel like it would.

“Really though,” Yang said, turning to her sister. “Prim's with Jaune. And Dad's not even thirty minutes away if there's anything Jaune can't handle. I meant it earlier when I said we need you here.”

“Goodwitch told you, right? They earned the right to be out here with us.” Nodding towards the two students ahead of them, Yang continued. “They were ranked near the bottom of their year until they found out the top scoring team of the semester would have their first mission with you as their lead.”

Ruby chewed her lip. Way to disappoint, Ruby.

“And they did it. Worked through every weekend, came in first in academics and just barely second in combat,” Yang said. She continued, a bit more quietly, “I've got a fangirl, you know? Ol' Red there, Tara. It's kind of cute. She just talks and talks and talks, told me aaaalllll about it. Twice.”

“You've got one too, you know,” Yang said, nudging her little sister. Ruby finally looked up from her scroll and met eyes with Sophie. The timid girl quickly looked away, busying herself with the fire.

“Tara told me all about that, too,” Yang said with an exasperated sigh. “You didn't notice, right? She has a rose embossed on the stock of her rifle and everything.”

Shame burned in Ruby's gut as she watched the mousy leader of Team STRW work. “I...”

“But that's why I'm here, sis,” Yang said, climbing to her feet and extending a hand down to Ruby. “To keep you in line. Let's go say hi.”

Ruby smiled up at her sister and reached up to take her proffered hand. Yang, however, didn't move to grab her.

“Nuh uh. Scroll. Hand it over.”

“But-”

Yang rolled her eyes. “But nothing. I promise I'll give it back once we reach town or if anything comes through. These girls know that being distracted can get you killed, they don't need to see it.”

Ruby relented and passed her scroll up. Her sister was right, she needed to get her head in the game. Yang smiled brightly and offered her other hand to help her sister to her feet before leading her towards the still unfinished fire.

“You girls struggling? I brought an expert camper to show you how it's done,” Yang joked. “Ruby here walked across two continents like a dumb ass and camped out nearly every night.”

Ruby glowered at her sister for that as she joined the two students at the fire. “We were keeping a low profile.”

“Suuuure you were. Over half a year on the road with some guy who you just happened to end up marrying later? 'Low profile', sure.”

“Yang, it wasn't-”

“Really, Miss Rose?” Sophie cut in suddenly. “You walked that far? Why?”

“There was an attack coming to Haven and I kinda sorta had to run away from home to protect it,” Ruby laughed uneasily. “And Sophie?”

The mouse girl perked up, probably because Ruby had remembered her name.

“It's Arc. Ruby works for me, though,” she told the girl, smiling.

“O-O-Okay Miss Ruby!”

Ruby shot Yang a glare when her sister snorted at that.

---

Ruby spent the rest of the evening chatting with Sophie, giving the girl tips on everything from setting a camp to weapon maintenance while out in the field. The girl listened raptly and Ruby wasn't entirely surprised when Sophie produced a small notepad to take notes.

Yang had the other three members of STRW with her on the other side of the fire, sharing battle stories. Yang had the girls eating up every word as she weaved stories of destroying Grimm, routing the White Fang, and all around kicking butts. Tara especially was enraptured, gasping and laughing at every major point.

“Let's take a break,” Yang finally said, stretching for the sky. She pulled out Ruby's scroll and shook it at her from across the fire. “Hey Rubes, got any new pictures? Mind if we take a look?”

“Go for it,” Ruby responded before turning back to Sophie. Ruby had the girl's rifle laid across her lap.

The other three girls crowded closer around Yang as she started going through Ruby's scroll. They ooh'd and aah'd at all the right points even if they were probably only being nice. What teenage girl cared about babies? Ruby hadn't at all until she had one of her own.

She didn't notice when exactly the group went quiet but something about the silence bugged her. Looking up from Sophie's rifle (named Silver Rose, much to Ruby's embarrassment), Yang's had a wide grin as she pointed out something on the scroll, holding it up closer for the girls to inspect. Their faces were painted red by the fire, flames shining in their wide eyes.

“Cute butt,” Yang said casually.

Ruby smiled and went back to inspecting the rifle. “Prim has a cute everything.”

“...I guess she got the butt from her dad...” Tara added quietly.

That was a...weird conclusion to draw, Ruby thought.

Yang chuckled. “Never knew dudes could pull off the whole naked apron thing, but dayum Vomit Boy.”

Ruby's head snapped up so quickly that rose petals fluttered down on her shoulders.

Yang was staring her down from across the fire, smug grin plastered on her face, and she realized that the other girls' faces weren't red from just the fire. Ruby couldn't see it clearly through the back of the scroll, but she could just make out her bright red apron and the blond wearing it (and nothing else) posing saucily in front of the bathroom mirror. Ruby delicately handed Sophie's rifle back to the girl and immediately sprung to her feet, making a mad dive for the scroll.

“T-T-Those are private!” she squawked as Yang danced away, holding the scroll high out of her sister's reach.

Yang laughed heartily as she continued to evade her sister's desperate grabs, leading her all over the campsite. Their leader Sophie looked thoroughly confused while the rest of her team giggled and elbowed each other.

After several minutes of chaos, Yang finally put her mortified younger sister in a friendly headlock until she petered out.

“Yaaaaang,” Ruby whined, trying to wrestle her way out of the hold. She'd never been so embarrassed in her life, and that was saying something. “Please give it back.”

“You have got to learn how to use private folders, Rubes,” Yang admonished. “What if I had been Dad?”

Ruby covered her eyes in shame, shuddering at the thought. Teenage girls ogling her husband was bad enough, she didn't need Dad seeing that side (literally) of Jaune. Thank the gods they stopped at the apron... Ruby thought. That was just the tip of the iceberg.

“So!” Yang announced, turning towards Team STRW with a defeated Ruby still firmly held in a headlock. “What did we learn from crazy mom-slash-wife Ruby Arc today?”

“Hide your porn?” one girl put forward, getting laughs from her friends.

“Find a guy with a nice butt,” another posited, getting even more laughs.

Ruby let out a withering sigh. This is one way to finally get away from the “perfect savior of Remnant” label, I guess.

“There's more to being a huntress than what we learn in class,” Sophie offered

Ruby nodded sagely at the girl's wisdom. That's my fangirl, she thought proudly.

Yang nodded along. “Solid answers all. What about you, Tara?”

The redhead tapped her lip in silent thought for a moment before answering.

“Never get married or have kids?”

“Nailed it!” Yang laughed, Team STRW (sans Sophie) laughing along with her.

I wanna go home... Ruby thought grumpily.

---

Sophie stood a little bit taller as the bullhead descended towards Beacon's landing pad. It was a successful mission through and through. A week out in the field, no casualties, no major injuries, and a thoroughly satisfied client. Miss Ro-...Miss Ar-...Ruby hadn't even had to help with the fighting, while her sister only joined in once to show off her skills for the team.

A week with her hero was like something out of a dream. Ruby was so different but so much better than what she had expected. She was nice, and awkward, and kind of a dork, but still an immensely competent and skilled leader. Everything Sophie hoped she could be one day. Ruby had even said she wanted to help her tinker with her rifle once they were back at Beacon!

Puffing out her chest in pride, she looked over to Ruby to thank her for everything she had done. The silver-eyed huntress met her gaze with a smile, but as soon as the bullhead doors started to open she disappeared in an explosion of flower petals that left the group staggering. Yang just laughed and offered the team her apologies as they followed the trail of petals towards Beacon's main entrance.

They found Ruby standing before the statue in the courtyard, an impressive mass of stone featuring a proud ponytailed huntress raising her spear high in victory. With her were Professor Goodwitch and a man that could only be Jaune Arc. And in Ruby's arms was Primrose, the daughter she had heard too much about.

The baby girl squealed in delight as her mother raised her high over her head over and over, each time bringing the girl down to her face to blow exaggerated raspberries into her stomach. The headmistress watched the spectacle with a soft smile, something Sophie had never seen on the stern woman's face before. Ruby's husband stood just off to the side, sniffling a little. Was he crying?

Noticing the group, Professor Goodwitch turned and faced them with her usual critical eye. Sophie swallowed heavily and stepped forward.

“Team STRW reporting in. The mission was successful with no major injuries sustained,” she reported smartly. “I have a preliminary debrief ready now, unless you would prefer to wait for the detailed report.”

The professor nodded firmly. “Good work. Mrs. Arc here has spoken quite highly of you all. I believe you've earned a rest. Enjoy your extended weekend and deliver your report first thing Monday morning.”

“Ma'am!” Sophie responded in the affirmative, squaring her shoulders. Ruby must have spoken highly of them indeed if the famously strict Professor Goodwitch was being so lenient.

“Thanks for watching out for Ruby for me. I really appreciate it.”

Jaune approached, hand extended. “Oh, uh, Jaune, by the way,” he added quickly.

Sophie heard a quiet “oh, we know” from Tara behind her, followed by a burst of giggling. What were they on about?

Jaune went from girl to girl for introductions. Sophie accepted the handshake proudly, but her teammates were red-faced and giggling during their turns. How could they be so rude to Ruby's husband?

“Hey Professor?” Yang asked suddenly. “Mind if I take STRW here out for dinner? I wanna hear about Beacon.”

Sophie watched her partner practically vibrate in place as she waited for the answer.

“No wrecked nightclubs,” was all Professor Goodwitch said before turning away and leaving the group.

“Awwww yeeeeaaah, par-tay!” Tara cheered, giving an excited high five to Yang.

Ruby and Jaune, hand resting around his wife's shoulder, approached the group as they chatted excitedly about their upcoming night on the town.

“You guys did really well,” Ruby said, favoring each girl with a smile. “You're all welcome to come by Patch anytime, we'd love to have you.”

“Definitely,” Jaune added. “I wanna hear about your mission. Ruby always glosses over stuff.”

Ruby affectionately headbutted her husband's chest at that.

“Really though, come by this weekend. I'll make lunch, whatever you guys like. I'll have you know,” Jaune added proudly, “I'm a pretty crack chef.”

A quiet snort was all Sophie heard before Yang and the rest of Team STRW burst into laughter.

(Thanks again to the fantastically talented @zaheela for the art. Make sure to throw money at them. Happy 9 Days of Lancaster!)

[goddamnitdazai]

intersect. || TachiChuu

Rarepair week Day 3 - Carrying Home || Contains Manga Spoilers || canon typical violence ||  Death is a texture. Thick like sludge that clings to everything. Death is a consistency of cold, eerie thoughts that rupture in the forefront of a mind succumbing to pain. To sickness. Death is both stagnate and ever changing. It contorts itself in to the life of others who witness it while simultaneously diminishing the light of a soul once burning as forceful as the sun. Death is prudent and strong--but there are cracks and flaws. Immeasurable circumstances that can change with one movement, one different action where death is pushed off for a time being. Chuuya, for most of his life, has been the unstoppable force. Or at least has tried.

In the last year the movements he’d constructed within seconds have strung death up by its heels. It had been coming after those he cared for time and time again and it had the young man grinding his teeth in the throws of war. Endless, it seemed. The madness of it all drew heavy ink-hued bags beneath once bright azure and where he once saw home now laid a reminder of all those he lost. Five towers knocked down to three. Smoke and ash curling among ruins. Memories wrapped in crumpled steel and concrete. 

The Port Mafia and Yokohama were running short on time. People fled, as they did during the last great war, and people remained to fight off the ones who turned their city into a battle zone. Neighboring gangs teaming up under the leadership of one powerful, and rather obnoxious as Chuuya saw him, man with dark eyes and and even darker soul. There were days Chuuya did not rest more than an hour or two before being called on to team up with the city’s strongest ability users currently able to withstand the siege. The hunting dogs. Among their ranks, a man formerly part of what he considered his family and a man he respected, though their interaction remained in situational delegations. Now and again Chuuya had gone on shorter missions accompanied by Tachihara before he betrayed the Port Mafia. He was good with a gun, and Chuuya was good with his legs. Missions that required reconnaissance as much as brute power were done well by the two of them. At first the subordinate seemed nervous around Chuuya and he was unsure if it was his demeanor or his position. Both, Chuuya had assumed but with the events that had unfolded months ago it was heard to decipher what was true. At least that is what Chuuya told himself. Truthfully, he knew the kid wasn’t that great of an actor nor was he that cold. There was sincerity in who Tachihara was while hidden in the Black Lizard. He supposes it doesn’t matter at this point. Tachihara was doing his job to protect the city, and for the time being Chuuya could forget his transgressions for the sake of Yokohama. Hirtosu and Gin were breathing, and truth be told Chuuya related to both the feeling of betrayal and betraying what he could consider...family. A literal knife in Chuuya’s back based on fear and manipulation. Mirrored actions. Parallel paths intersecting on a different timeline. Chuuya huffs at the thought. Understanding Tachihara’s reasoning didn’t excuse his actions, but it made it more difficult at times to hold blame. Chuuya was angry; but could he be? A bullet whizzes past his head directing his attention to the forefront. He smirks. Twisting the bullet back to its original owner with a soft hum. Concrete falling to dust beneath this weighted footsteps red aura glowing through his body. Scent of blood thick in the air, but he’d been around it so long it’d become a familiar perfume. Gunshots ring out. His smirk rises knees bending to shoot him up on top of a pile of bricks next to a decaying parking garage. Bits of what used to be a bookstore and second floor coffee shop leaning down from bombs blowing out the walls. Glass shards rise up coated in fluid garnit piercing the air with a quick whistle that silences the gunfire. He was looking for the leader’s supply route, and from the look of all the semi trucks he’d found it. A second explosion rattles Chuuya’s skeleton before he jumps from rock to rock brought up by the gravitational pull at his fingertips. Avoiding the attempted assassination and only feeling faint warmth from the glowing fire until it buries itself in grey smoke. Chuuya smirks and waits for the second round of gunfire. Heart pumping blood quickly through his veins as bullets surround him, middle finger out and directing the now-ruby glowing bullets in a swirl just to send them right back. In his peripheral he notices metal beams moving quickly past the semi trucks that had been idling suspiciously quiet. Where were the drivers? Apparently, not the men he just killed with their own bullets. He could really use a fucking cigarette right now.

More metal rattles from a pile of wreckage flinging bits into dust covered shadows. Chuuya side steps one with a grunt hands shoved deep in his pockets as he walks towards the four trucks lined in a row trying to place what used to be here. He didn’t spend much time on this side of town unless he was driving by on his bike. A car dealership? Something useless to him. His eyes bounce around the environment taking in each strip of detail, where every particle of dust falls, and the faint sound of labored breathing. Chuuya stops mid-step peering down beneath his foot. Thick crimson pooling near a pile of sharpened metal fragments dug deep into a man’s body. Hunter green and pale blue--the color scheme was tacky and easy to spot. The enemy, despite their destruction, weren’t exactly in the business of protecting their own. Chuuya steps on the man’s chest ending it quickly. Traitor couldn’t even end a life before he moved on to the next, he thinks, jaw locking as he continues forward dust caking his shoe in mottled grey and brown. Mangled framework of a half-finished building peeks through the billowing smoke and dust. Night sky keeping a majority of the street clouded in deep navy, but the dark was nothing out of the ordinary for Chuuya. This much destruction in one swoop was something of a rare occasion and it left a sour taste in his mouth. He shakes the memory from his head; later. When he was alone with a bottle of wine and the job was completed. He could unravel for a moment before picking himself up again. His posture straightens as he kicks a boulder in to a hidden guard aiming for his head. “Oi, you fuckers going to play hide and seek all night or are we going to have a real fight?” He calls into the darkness, smirk rising higher than the sliver of moonlight above. More gunfire, scattered. Thin pops of gold against murky black encapsulating the broken down building making it easier for them to hide. Chuuya didn’t care. He was used to fighting in the dark. He follows the sound, humming. Bullets bouncing off him, cement cracking beneath his feet into a dozen sharp comets careening forward. Blood splatters. Metal shakes. A curled beam split in thin strips begins to vibrate at his ankle and shoots forward completing the end of a few stragglers his rocks didn’t take out completely. At least Tachihara was doing his fucking job. Chuuya ducks beneath one of the tilted beams leaning against a half-crumpled wall of bricks like the entrance to a tent. Smoke thick enough to make him pull his forearm up to block it from entering his lungs. Quietly he steps over rubble and glass shards, bullet casings rolling into the obscurity around him sound echoing louder the deeper he walks. Strips of moonlight casting white over bruised and battered bodies atop a pool of crimson painting the floor. Metal shards sticking out of a few further in. The hairs on the back of his neck stand up--something hits the floor near him hidden in the shadow barely caught by his quick-shifting gaze. Three seconds more and Chuuya would have kicked a crater in Tachihara’s head. “Oi, warn me next time you’re going to sneak up on me!” He grates out, pivoting with his hands shoved back down in his pockets. Blue eyes growing wide at the sight of his former subordinate. Tachihara looked a bit buffer, maybe from training again with the hunting dogs, maybe Chuuya never really paid attention. Blood had begun to streak down his side soaking the white t-shirt and familiar jacket. Strange how he’d changed from his outfit. Confuse the enemy, keep his secret identity hidden from foreign organizations..it didn’t matter. Chuuya’s jaw locks as he kneels down on the balls of his feet to asses. “You okay?” He asks voice a touch softer than before. Tachihara looks up at him blood caked on the right side of his head cascading down in thick dribbles over his cheek and chin. Shoulder speckled with the same deep red. “Yeah boss, asshole clipped my side and I fell.” He half-smiles and tries to push himself up to his knees only to fall again hand barely catching his weight. Chuuya’s brow arches. Boss? “Is Hirotsu okay?” Tachihara asks through gritted teeth. “Old man hasn’t been here all night. Shouldn’t he be helping or is it his bed time?” Despite the apparent pain Tachihara’s voice remains teasing, the way Chuuya remembered. Gruff, deep, a street tone Chuuya recognized in himself but airy in a way when he was around those he trusted. “Hirotsu…” shit, his head. Chuuya stares at him for a few moments running through different scenarios that could play out. Mori would want the information, but if he didn’t remember he was fucking useless as a captive. He wouldn’t even know he was captive. Chuuya rubs his palm down his face. “He’s fine. Hanging back letting us young ones do all the fuckin’ work.” Chuuya couldn’t let him die. For a myriad of reasons that would send the mafia in hot water, and..he couldn’t let him fucking die. Traitor or not. Traitor. That fucking word made Chuuya’s mouth feel dirty. And yet here they both were, perfectly described with that adjective. The only difference being time. Which meant what? It didn’t lessen the levels, the dishonesty and lies for personal gain. What happened because of his inability to lead. Tachihara showed himself as he was, there was little doubt in Chuuya’s mind the smoke and mirrors were just enough to infiltrate. Personal gain. Only reason to join a brigade like that; he wasn’t a mastermind like Jouno or a diehard believer...--but what drove him? Chuuya swears he feels something press into his back, the scar left long ago. Cold. His spine tingles. Tachihara’s face pales, sweat beginning to bead beneath his forehead and soak the front of his shirt. “C-c-chuuya-san...think..we can save the rest for the old man? Should pull his damn weight yeah?” That fucking half-smile, the one that tries to hide how deep his wounds were. His pain. “I suppose it’s only fair.” Chuuya states, extending his arms to scoop Tachihara up with ease. Kid was light as hell. “Oi, how do you weigh so little with all that muscle?” “I---you’re strong” He half bows to Chuuya in embarrassment, but the angle merely leads to Tachihara bumping the good side of his head against Chuuya’s chin. The older man grunts, eyes focused on what was in front of him. Feet moving fluidly through the wreckage; drop off point. The government had made one and he didn’t really give a fuck about being told to stay off the perimeter. Tachihara slumps against Chuuya’s chest causing Chuuya’s eyes to flit down in a panic that sends his heart to his throat. “Stay awake, Tachihara. It’s an order.” Chuuya commands in a tone the younger should recognize, and the reply of a simple nod is enough. The walk wouldn’t be too long, and from the quiet ahead there wouldn’t be much to stop them. Shadows pave their way winding through buildings and alleys. Yokohama drifting in to the one of the very few tranquil moments. Out of habit Chuuya begins to hum to himself. Filling the silence, and from what a few of them had said long ago… the reminder of someone else being there was comforting when everything else was uncertain and death loomed close. Chuuya tightens his grip on Tachihara, humming a bit louder as night begins to fall away to dawn.

[knightofbalance-13]

https://queenypie.tumblr.com/post/178594737218/how-not-to-write-ruby

*rolls eyes*

The last post I made, one dudeblade brought up an interesting point: RWBY is a good measuring tool for how not to write a story.

Dudeblade is the same guy who thinks futanari fanfic porn that directly rips off another fanfic is better than  canon.

I’ve always wanted to have my say on what I felt was wrong with the show, but never felt motivated to go all out with it. In good faith I can’t say I’ll see this concept to the end, but I figured I’d give it a shot.

And in good faith I can’t take anything you say seriously.

You have outright admitted to not watching Volume 5 so why, precisely, should I think you have any right to talk about the show?

So, with that said, where to begin? Well…

How about the basic writing mistakes made in Volume 1 and 2, showcasing how just doing things for the sake of ‘cool’ doesn’t work unless you specifically structure your show around that and not as an average piece of media like Monty did? That would certainly go to show why RWBY has the issues it has because it was trying to build itself up as something it’s foundation couldn’t support so now the writers have to work on something with a fundamentally flawed structure.

When you see a show called RWBY, what do you think? That looks like Ruby but misspelled. And guess what? The R stands for Ruby, who is the leader of the team. Surely she must be of utmost importance, right? She’s obviously going to get loads of character development.

Oh so we’re just gonna do that...Okay you disingenuous fuck-

No, no one thinks that. Because we’re STUCK with the main characters for a long period of time, especially Ruby. So you need to PACE yourself or else you’re gonna end up like Goku, a dynamic character wildly regarded as a static character because his development was planned up to the Cell Arc at best and the end of the original Dragon Ball at worst and he hasn’t developed since.

These are the hopes of the audience before they are grinded away. Season. After Season. After Season

Volume 1: She learns how to be a leader.

Volume 2: She shows this by commanding her team better, getting along with Weiss better and working better with her teammates.

Volume 3: She learns that the world isn’t like the fairy tale she thought it was.

Volume 4+5: She shows this by explaining that despite how cruel and uncaring the world is, she feels that she needs to keep fighting because it’s the right thing to do, showing a more grown up mindset than before.

But I guess if you huff paint fumes and down a bottle of scotch each time you watch the show, the resulting blurs and flashing lights probably look like the same character.

Ruby is not a character: she’s a collection of points stuck to a plot device with scotch tape and glue. Her first episode shows her kicking ass but not being a complete powerhouse. Subsequent episodes show or say that she: is a weapon fanatic, likes books (in a throwaway line), her mom is dead, she has super lazy plot powers, and doesn’t know how to punch things. All of these things are brought up…and that’s as far as they go.

She was also highly naïve and rejected the idea that the worldview she had was wrong, as shown in Episode 3 where instead of acknowledging that Blake had a point in saying that the world wasn’t a fairy tale, she instead said ‘well that’s why we’re here right?’

Ruby is also shown that she cannot process negative emotions very well, as shown throughout Volume 4 with how we only see glimpses of her sadness and stress until Episode 11 where she nearly has a full breakdown from everything going on.

Contrast this with how she is shown in Volume 5, where she acknowledges the previous thoughts in her worldview and more openly shows her grief about the deaths of her friends in the SAME DAMN EPISODE.

And all those ‘points’? All used to reinforce one of these two aspects. Weapon fanatic? It’s portrayed as a childlike glee.obsession to reinforce her childish mindset, Likes books? She actually likes fairy tales, again reinforcing her naïve worldview. Summer being dead? Feeds into how she can’t process negative emotions. Doesn’t know how to punch things? because she is so childish she never thought she would need anything but her precious weapon.

Ruby is actually an example of how you build character CORRECTLY if you are building them with a theme in mind. Blake described Ruby as ‘purity’ remember? Well, everything about Ruby feeds into the idea. From her design color being one associated with heroism and justice, to her age justifying her purity, to her motivation being the purest form of heroism, to her failures where her pure black and white worldview failed her, to her grief where her pure heart prevented her from fully processing the sadness and grief she felt-

EVERYTHING about Ruby feeds into the idea of purity. And from that viewpoint, she’s a rather well written character. But there in lies your problem, doesn’t it? Ruby is good at what she was intended for, not what you want from her. And instead of accepting that and either trying to enjoy the character for what they are or just going somewhere else for what you want, you whine and cry in a temper tandrum until the creators morph Ruby into what you want.

And that’s why you fail at this: Because you only take Ruby on YOUR terms, not her creators. Which is what a critic is SUPPOSE to do.

If you want to create a character, you need to develop what you established. Ruby likes weapons? Make her talk about it more, bring it up around Weiss, Blake, and others more often and then have it relate to her personally. She likes books? Have her and Blake sitting down and talking about books, perhaps have it worked into an episode where Blake runs away. Perhaps Weiss finds out Ruby grew up without a blood mother and she talks about her own family. 

Not enough time, not enough time, not enough time.

One of RWBY’s major failings is trying to be a full length anime instead of the limited web series it is. And you are basically demanding that they make that issue WORSE.

You don’t need to develop every nook-and-cranny of a character.

They say as they ignore the stuff about Ruby they specifically don’t mention, as though they DO need to develop EVERYTHING about Ruby or else you’ll ignore it.

Your actions don’t match your words, and your actions matter more. And your actions tell me ‘Do exactly what I’m thinking or you’re shit.’

If Ruby’s weapon fanaticism was dropped, that would be fine if her love of books or at least her thoughts of her late mother were further developed. It’s by letting these many different points pile up that you create a mountain of questions from the audience.

Except the actual audience understands these are just random traits to have the fans expand on while the writers work on the actually important stuff.

Why is it when Weiss and Blake have a conflict, Ruby never acts like a leader despite a previous episode convincing her she’s fit for the role?

Because intervening would do nothing but make the issue worse.

Why is it that both the dance arc and mount Glenn exposition don’t address Ruby in a meaningful way?

A. Because not everything is suppose to be about ONE character?

And B. Mount. Glenn was the first instance of Ruby getting her ass handed to her for not having her weapon. In hindsight, it actually did.

Why is it that while Weiss is dangerously pursuing her sister, Blake is building up the white fang resistance, and Yang is hunting her mother, that Ruby’s big arc is learning fist-to-face combat?

Because:

A. Her big arc is actually developing as a person overall, you’re just misrepresenting it.

And B. She’s almost died HOW MANY times now because of that one issue?

These are the type of questions you need to be aware when putting a character in a role, showing/bringing up them acting strangely, 

A. they are.

And B. How can you be aware of something if all people of about it is LIE?

calling to light other character’s backgrounds or motivations, or even asking yourself what your characters are doing this volume/season/chapter/etc.

Ah huh-

This has nothing to do with the rest of the post.

You couldn’t even make a proper closing statement and yet you are lecturing people on how to write.

Funny how your series shows what NOT to write more than the show you’re bitching about?