#summer was yang's mommy too

[littlelewdmable]

The Strange Love Life Of Professor Rose Part 3: Good News Everyone

*Back at Summer's apartment*

Ruby: Why didn't you tell us you were going to teach at Beacon!?

Summer: I didn't decide to take the job until a few days ago, and I figured it would be a nice surprise.

Yang: Cool. Cool. Can we live here too?

Summer: No.

Yang: But you've got 3 extra bedrooms!

Summer: And I'm not giving you two any special treatment. Do you really want to be the team that's staying with their leader's mommy?

Ruby: ...No.

Yang: Like anyone would ever say anything about it to my face.

Summer: And how would your teammates feel about that?

Ruby: Blake would like the privacy.

Summer: The faunus girl with the bow?

Ruby: ...

Yang: ...How did you know Blake was a faunus.

Summer: She has cat eyes, her bow slightly twitched when Glynda was yelling, and she's almost a carbon copy of her mother.

Summer: I should probably call Kali now that I think about it.

[iamafanofcartoons]

Keith Montalbo draws the Xiao Long Rose Family during RWBY's happier times. Remember! Summer Rose was Yang's Mommy Too! www.twitter.com/KeithMontalbo/status/1276982082774933505 www.deviantart.com/commissioneronhiatus/art/Summer-Tai-Yang-and-Ruby-by-Keith-Montalbo-853271557

[howlingday]

RWBY Tomboys

True Tomboy - Reese Chloris

Athletic, likes sports/skating, works out

"Long hair is such a pain in the ass"

Truly one of the bros, except for biological features

Possibly wlw (If has 3 flannels, then yes)

Tomboy Dayjob - Nora Valkyrie

Tomboy by day, Hella girly by night

Room is frilly and pink and filled with Disney/Ghibli/Sanrio merch

Behaves like a tomboy, dresses like a tomboy, but her interests betray her looks

Non-sweaty gamer

NEET Tomgoblin - Ilia Amitola

Sweaty gamer

Lurks in discords/imageboards, probably groomed in one without knowing tbh

Potent scent (stinky)

Messy room, grungly goblin cave

Doesn't go out, has no interest in fashion, thus making her a tomboy by default

Feral Tomcreature - Yang Xiao Long

Can be found collecting bugs and/or other animals as pets

Touches grass, probably too much

Has other niche hobbies, like knife collecting

Gets way too excited when talking about certain lore (true crime/ animals)

Will fight you, Destroys other girls in combat

Domesticated Tomboy - Blake Belladonna

Formerly a feral tomcreature

Domesticated by society/self-realizations

Very girly, womanly vibes are especially potent

Well-groomed and clean

Certain interests and objects will awaken sealed tomboy underneath

Will occasionally and unconsciously sit like a dude (dead give-away)

Rebel Tomboy (w/ mental issues DLC) - Raven Branwen

Extreme loner/attached to the wrong crowd

Smokes/Vapes, High chance of drinking, too

Listens to Mr. Kitty After Dark on repeat (doomer playlist)

Family Issues

Undiagnosed ADHD

"It is what it is"

Cares about fashion, but only the goth/grunge side

Femcel Tomling - Ruby Rose

Self-aware, self-doubting, anxiety ridden tomboy

Likely owns firearms or some other forms of weaponry

Higher than average chance to shoot up a dust shop

Physical manifestation of crackpot conspiracies/government theories

Sad girl

YOU CANNOT FIX HER

The Tomelder - Summer Rose

Rarest tomboy phenotype

Grown woman who has clung to her tomboy past, evolving into the tomelder

Very chill, free-spirited, zero filter, will speak her mind on whatever

Your friends have a crush on her

Mommy energy conflicts with tomboy energy, creating a strange phenomenon

[jboy44]

Rusted night maiden hunter

Team rwby and jnpr look to summer raven kali and  willow glowing eyes and to jaune betting juniper

Yang " so ozpin infinite man oir moms are the maidens and you made them abandon us?

He mods

Ruby " jaune time traveled and went to ever after he rusted knight?

Ozpin nods

Weiss cries " 😭😭😭😭 i am ideas play boy vs knight i choice player

Pyrtha " and you cursed jaunes line so arcs have to keep there word and as one promised his line would all ways serve you jaune is your slave 😡😡😡?

Ozpin nodds

Blake " you had jaune hold back all this time

Nora has hammer " and as jaune helped his sister in law get pregnant my leaders son my nephew is technically born a slave?

Ozpin nods

Ren " and killing you is pointless so nothing wr can do matters?

He mods

Willow summer raven and kali take therr daughter's hands " that brings us to this sweetie mommy and her friends took turns riding your friend jaune

Team rwby processing there moms the four maidens banged the rusted knight jaune arc

In the evernight castle

Salem: I must save my family from that despicable man

Suddenly a portal of radiating light and darkness appears and 2 figures fall out of it fallowed by a hooded figure

G O L: ow did you have to kick us

G O D: ya even after you beat us up

Hooded figure: yes, yes I did and you both know why

Light: yes because your nephew is being controlled by my mistake

He pulls off the hood to reveal uncle briar

Salem: briar please tell me you have good news

Briar: of course Salem these two said they will deal with the infinity man and my sister will get her grand babies so she’ll quit bugging me

Salem: ahem my grand babies too

Briar: ya ya what ever

Darkness: can we go now

Briar: not till you deal with that green jack ass

Light: fine

They leave to deal with ozpin

Briar: well I must go give my regards to the blacksmith she helped me find those two then off for more adventures

He leaves

Salem: that man scares the shit out of me

Ruby rolling around crying " 😭😭😭😭the boy i like did my mommy "

Weiss hitting head on wall " guy who i turned down did my mommy " pulling hair out

Yang crying eyes out " how could you vb? "

Blake fainted

Pyrrha ".... SO YOU NEVER NOTICED ME BECUASE I AM NOT OLD ENOUGHY OR NOT MAGICAL??"

Jaune " ...... I am not allowed to comment on this take it to ozpin."

Nora " fearless leader is milf hunter

Ren " magic milf hunter

Team milf " young lady get a hold of your self right now

Team rwby jump scared

In a flash a being of light and a being of darkness appears

Light: ya no more controlling of the arcs

He snaps his fingers and a green haze surrounds jaune only for it to shatter like glass

Jaune: hey I’m free.. fuck you old man

He punch ozpin in the face

Darkness: oh and you will no longer be a body snatching asshole

A light surrounded ozpin only for it to fade away

Ozpin: no but what about humanity

Light: oh we’ll be around and her kids magic

All the girls get magic

Darkness: and you boy, you shall be vary important for what is to come

Jaune: what is coming?

Light: our sister

Everyone: what????

Darkness: while I’m destruction and my brother is creation but our sister is sort of like light here she is life but more along the lines of creating it

Light: more like the goddess of lust and sex

Jaune: and that’s bad because???

Darkness: she’s a whore and will do bad things to your world so you young man need to sate her

Jaune: what I can’t do that

Light: according to these girls and your mother, your uncle , and your sister in law, you’ll do fine

Ruby: well looks like you need practice

All the girls look at jaune with hungry gazes

Jaune: he he I’m in danger

Jaune runs as the horde of women chase him around.

[notmaplemable]

Ghosts Of Summer 38: Promise

3yo Ruby: Mommy, can I have a cape too?

Summer: Of course Rosebud, but you'll have to wait to have one like mine.

Ruby: Why?

Summer: It's a tradition from my mom from where she grew up. On my twelfth birthday she made one with me.

Ruby: Wow! So when I'm bigger me and you are gonna make a cape for me?

Summer: That's right.

Ruby: Is that the one you are wearing now?

Summer: ...No... your dad actually made this one for me after I lost my first one.

Ruby: Daddy made that?

Summer: You bet he did.

Ruby: Can I have a red one?

Summer: Ruby red.

Ruby: You promise?

Summer: I promise. You'll have your ruby red hood on your twelfth birthday, or my name isn't Summer Rose.

Ruby: *Giggles*

------

12yo Ruby: *Huddled in her hiding spot near Summer's grave*

Qrow: Hey, kiddo.

Ruby: Uncle Qrow? What are you doing here?

Qrow: You know I never miss your birthday. *sits down next to Ruby* But it looks like you're trying to miss it this year.

Ruby: ...

Qrow: *Puts his arm around Ruby and pulls her into his side* What's wrong?

Ruby: ...Mom promised.

Qrow: What did she promise?

Ruby: That she would help me make a hood like hers when I turned twelve.

Qrow: Yeah, that sounds like her. You know she would be right here to help you make it if she could be.

Ruby: ...Yeah, I guess.

Qrow: Why don't we go back to Tai's and dig into some of that cake he got you?

Ruby: ...Can we stay here for just a bit longer?

Qrow: Whatever you want, it's your birthday.

Ruby: ...Thank you, Uncle Qrow.

Qrow: ...

Ruby: ...

Qrow: *Slides a white box with a red bow into Ruby's lap*

Ruby: Uncle Qrow?

Qrow: I won't tell anyone you opened a present a little early if you don't.

Ruby: *Smiles* Thank you.

Ruby opens the box, revealing something red covered in old tissue paper with a note on top.

Ruby: "From mom and dad"?

Qrow: Summer always had a few things tucked away, just in case. This one she said to make sure got to you if something ever happened to her.

Ruby: Dad never said anything about me getting another present.

Qrow: ...Guess he wanted to make it a surprise. Now, why don't you see what it is?

Ruby: Okay.

Ruby horridly moves the tissue paper out of the way, revealing a red cloak. She hold it up and looks at it with wide eyes.

Qrow: *Chuckles*

Ruby: It's a hood!

Qrow: Looks just like Summer's. Here, let me help you get it on.

Qrow pins down the cloak with some safety pins after somehow convincing Ruby to stay still for a moment.

She spun around in it, feeling like a real hero. A real huntress! Before she almost tripping over it. Qrow managing to catch her.

Qrow: Look like you still need to do a little growing into it.

Ruby: It's so cool! Can we go show dad and Yang!? Can we, can we, can we?

Qrow: Lead the way.

Ruby: *Runs a little ahead a Qrow walks behind her*

Qrow: Just like Summer.

[gor3-hound]

other works

☆ fuck you !! (and, uh, fuck her too)

ft. logan howlett x reader x scott summers

Scott is starting to think Logan likes his things way too much. First, it was the way he looked at you when he was first brought to the school, eyes raking over your form. Scott wasn't blind – the visor didn't impair his vision that much. He remembers walking into the room when the both of you were alone. He could sense the tension between the two of you before his presence was even made known to you.  It wasn't until a while later he'd figured out Logan probably smelt him coming. Cocky bastard probably wanted to be caught.

☆ talk too much

ft. welt yang x reader

You certainly were a curious thing. Welt had gotten used to those on the Astral Express treating him as their personal encyclopedia, although he hadn't quite expected you to be so adamant to get him to info dump on every little thing once you'd discovered it - not that he didn't like it. He did pride himself on his intelligence, and there were much worse ways to spend his time than having a nice conversation with someone like you, even if you're the only one that can make his heart race when you called him Mr. Yang. He's not surprised at all when he hears a knock on his door at night. He pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he looks up and gazes towards the entrance of his room, spotting you slowly opening it, looking all sheepish as you slide your way into the room, shutting the door behind you. "Ah, good evening. Isn't it a bit late for you to expect me to go on one of my tangents?" He asks, the corner of his mouth twitching up in amusement.

☆ mama's boy

ft. nero x mommy dom!reader

He gives you another one of his looks - the one halfway between pure adoration and complete confusion. He knows you're someone that sees him. That sees Nero behind the front he puts up. Somehow, you're aware of how fucked up he is, and you're still willing to stay. He doesn't know how to take it, he can feel himself getting choked up as he meets your eyes. And he can't cry, not in front of you. So he nods again, closing his eyes to keep in the unshed tears, wrapping you up tightly in his free arm while his hand squeezes yours as hard as he can without hurting you. “Alright, mama. Night.” He croaks out, the words he wants to say dying on his tongue. But when you rub your thumb over the nape of his neck and squeeze his hand back, he knows you felt it. He knows you love him, too. He knows that despite everything, it's enough for you. He's enough for you.

☆ let sleeping dogs lie

ft. joel miller x puppy!reader

That seems to placate you enough, and all seems to be forgiven. You nod and lean into his touch, that cute tail of yours picking up tenfold. There's something oddly soothing about petting you, so he decides to indulge you a little, leaning back against the porch railings as he sits on the steps.

It isn't until he notices your droopy eyes and the way you're slowly inching closer to him, practically curled up on his lap, that he realizes the sun is setting, and he wasted most of the day with you. He can't bring himself to mind.

[lwde-haven]

Dungeon of Sult: Ruby Finale Part 2

Ruby riding the brutal and fulfilling pleasure of having her asshole being stretched and fucked by the three cocks of her teammates. All working together to fuck their slut of a leader as if this was completely normal, that they had always done thid.

Weiss, Blake and Yang moaned as they thrust into Ruby. Abusing her hole for their pleasure.

"Nngh! Aaah! I'm getting close!" Blake moaned out.

"Me too! Yang?"

"Together team!"

With one hard thrust, all three began to unleash their load into Ruby's asshole. Flooding her insides completely in white creamy substance.

"Geesh. What a mess~" Weiss giggled.

"Better clean this up, Rubes," Yang chuckled as Ruby's asshole was gushing cum while she laid in a pool of the cum she collected.

"Having fun girls?" A familiar voice spoke up.

"Oh, hey mom!" Yang greeted.

Standing down the hall, fully naked but no futa cock present, was Summer Rose. Smiling at the scene before her as if she was actually proud of what Ruby had done.

Tears pried in the corner of her eyes, hearing a voice she had almost forgotten despite loving so much. Ruby couldn't believe her eyes as they laid upon the naked figure of her mother. "M-Mom!" Ruby cried out as he tackled her mother in a hug, uncaring of their appearances, or her oozing, gaping anus. "Aww, how adorable. You missed mommy, didn't you?~" Summer purred, in a way no mother should talk to their child. Ruby was completely oblivious to it, too ecstatic to see her mother again. "Of course I did!" Ruby exclaimed, before a wave of shame and naughty memories hit her. "M-mom, I-I'm sorry, I-I'm..." "What? A naughty, little slut?" "M-Mom?!" "Oh baby, don't take it the wrong way... You're just being yourself, it's alright. I'm proud of you for being who you are~." Summer said, a mixture of sweetness and judgement in her voice, which confused Ruby's poor little pink head greatly. "A-a slut? I..." "That's right, now then... Don't you want to be a good slut for mommy?" Summer asked before plunging her tongue into Ruby's mouth, not actually caring about her opinion. Despite not having a cock like her teammates, it was clear who the top bitch was. Summer was dominating Ruby's mouth in incestuous delight. She sucked on her tongue, explored her wet cavity, even spit in her mouth. Her wandering hands meanwhile found Ruby's massive rear, cupping her cheeks, spanking them teasingly and even fingering her butt among the creamy goodness. Ruby's head was an absolute mess from all this. Her mother, her own flesh in blood, which she thought was dead for years, was having an intense, incestual, lesbian makeout session with her. Right after calling her a slut, and she LOVED it. When Summer pulled out from her, a naughty string of saliva still connected their mouth, both panting. Summer smiled at her daughter, before giving her a quick lick on the tongue. "There's a good girl~. Now, didn't your sister say to clean your mess?" Ruby gulped at that, a mixture of her mother and her own saliva, a sweet sinful nectar. She looked down at the mess in question, the ever-growing pool of semen that was still leaking out of her anus. Between her mother's kind but lustful look and her equally horny teammates all around her, Ruby succumbed to her desire and peer pressure. She lowered herself to her hands and knees, and started lapping at the cum like a dog. Loving both the taste and humiliation. "Good girl~" Summer purred as she lowered herself to Ruby's swaying butt, giving a nice, long peck on Ruby's rosebud. Getting an approximate taste as to what Ruby was currently drinking.

[autumn-foxfire]

Raven: Look who's leaving too

Summer: I'm leaving for a good purpose that surely won't fuck up my daughters as much as your leaving will fuck up yours

Ruby and Yang in the future being a bundle of mommy issues-

Sorry for the bad joke but I'm really excited at the confirmation that Raven knows something. Fandom has been calling it since volume 5 but to have this confirmed is so good.

I need to know what happened between them! What exactly does Raven know about Summer's final mission? Does she know what happened with Summer?

WHAT WENT DOWN CRWBY! TELL ME!

[razieltwelve]

Scars (Final Rose AU)

A somewhat... darker take on the consequences of dating someone with Saviour.

X X X

Summer's back arched, and her whole body tensed. Her entire world went white before the rising tide of pleasure swept her away from the light and near to darkness. For long, long moments, nothing else mattered. There was only her and Lightning and a seemingly endless wave of orgasms so intense she wondered if she was going insane.

When the pleasure finally faded, she sank back onto the bed and covered her face with one arm. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. To her shame, her body was already begging for more. Her legs shifted to lock Lightning in place, only for the pink-haired woman to sit up and lick her lips.

"Are you all right?" Lightning asked. Her voice was low and rough. "Summer?"

Summer bit her lip so hard it bled. "This is so fucked up. I'm so fucked up."

Lightning scooped her up into her arms. Summer didn't resist. Instead, she savoured the warmth of Lightning's body. The other woman felt so right, like Summer was meant to be in her arms.

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry. If I had known..."

"I was the one who kept asking you," Summer whispered.

She pressed herself against Lightning. The urge to seek comfort was strong, but her other urges were already trying to take over. For a split-second, she saw herself thrown onto her front as Lightning fucked her into the bed, each thrust finding that perfect depth and hitting at that perfect angle. Lightning would have one hand tangled in her hair, yanking Summer back with just the right amount of force, so they could kiss. Liquid heat filled Summer's body. She wanted that. She wanted that so badly. She wanted Lightning to just take and take and take until there was nothing left in Summer that wasn't hers.

"Even so, I should have noticed it sooner. I should -"

Summer couldn't stand it anymore. She yanked Lightning into a kiss. It felt so good. Too good. And then Lightning was pushing her back onto the bed.

"Please," Summer begged.

Lightning stared down at her, eyes filled with desire, regret, and love. "Summer..."

"Please," Summer said again. "They'll be back the day after tomorrow. I need this. I need you. Please."

"All right."

X X X

Fang kept one eye on the kids as Lightning fucked Summer senseless a few rooms over. The situation was, by any decent standard, extremely fucked up. There was a part of her that wanted nothing more than to just storm in there and tear Summer to pieces before reminding Lightning who she was married to.

But she didn't do that. Instead, she watched as Averia and Diana played with Yang and Ruby. They were pretending to be huntresses although their game skipped all of the unpleasant paperwork in favour of fighting Grimm.

"Is my mommy okay?" Ruby asked.

"She's just a little sick," Fang replied. "Your Aunt Lightning is taking care of her."

"Oh." Ruby smiled sunnily. "She should be fine then, right?"

"Of course."

The worst part was that Fang wasn't even lying. Summer and Lightning had gone out for a few years, and their relationship had been... intense in every way. Lightning had used Saviour to 'optimise' sex at Summer's suggestion, never realising that their decision would have long-lasting consequences.

To put it bluntly, Summer had a Lightning addiction.

Fang knew from personal experience what Saviour was capable of in the bedroom, but she had Ragnarok. The mental... filters that came with Ragnarok prevented her from getting addicted to anything, and that included the otherworldly pleasure Saviour could provide.

Summer had nothing like that.

Instead, Summer was doomed to constantly compare the sex she had with other people to the sex she had with Lightning. The result was an unshakeable addiction, a desire for Lightning that Summer did her very best to suppress but which would always - always - become too much given enough time.

And so they had come up with a solution.

Regular visits to keep things from getting out of hand.

It was the very definition of fucked up, but none of them had come up with a better idea yet. They'd even asked Vanille to look into it, and the other woman had only been able to shake her head. She'd put it very bluntly.

"Imagine growing up eating nothing but the very finest cuisine. You get used to it. It's all you know. And then suddenly all you can eat is gruel. It tastes like shit, right? Of course, it does. It's gruel. But the whole time that cuisine is right there, all you have to do is reach out and take it. That would drive you insane, right? If you could just have a bit of the cuisine every now and then, you could stomach eating the gruel. You could get through it. But if you could only just stare at it, so close but so out of reach? You'd grow crazy, wouldn't you?"

And so Fang had let Lightning and Summer do what they needed to do because Lightning was the love of her life and Summer was one of her best friends. It was messed up, but until they came up with a better plan, it was all they had.

Her senses, which could pierce through Saviour's silencing field, continued to catalogue Summer's cries and wails and sobs of pleasure. She could hear the self-loathing hidden behind each sound, along with the unmistakable desire for more.

"Hey," Fang said, clapping her hands together. "Why don't we go down to the lake? We can go fishing."

She needed to get out of the house before she did something stupid.

[voluptuous-rwby-girls]

So, out of curiosity, what’s the lore behind the mommy milkers AU?

Well too be honest i don't count it as a Au since most of it is my own cannon really, like Raven and Yang are the bustiest women on Remnant only followed by Neo. Kali and Blake are the thiccest women on Remnant, Ruby and Summer can gain the most weight and lose it really fast, Wiess,WInter and Willow can gain muscle and height, but Winter can effect any part of her body. (Bust,ass,weight,height and muscle) only when she has the maiden powers but cannot pass the biggest women though.

[majoringinsarcasm]

CHAPTER NINE BABY LETS GO SUMMER ROSE IM MANIFESTING YOU READING THAT BEDTIME STORY LETS SEE IF IM A FOOL OR IF ILL ACREAM

FORWDBWE

Ok. Ok ok. So. Someone IS reading! It COULD be Summer or or or

Y’all I had to pause if it’s SUMMER IM GONNA SCREAM

MOTHERS AND FUCKERS OF THE JURY WE HAVE THE LAST MOM WE HAVE FINISHED THE COLLECTION AND OH NO SHES HOT AS HELL

SHES SO PRETTY SHES SO FUCKING PRETTY AND IM ONLY LOOKING AT HER DROM NOSE DOWN

HER SHOULDERS IM A VICTORIAN MAN I HAVE FALLEM ILL FROM HER BEAUTY

BABY YAAAAANG SLEEPING SOUNDLY BC HER MOMMY IS JERE IM

GOD she’s so beautiful and we don’t even see her face or her full outfit but it Does Not Matter fuuuuuuck

Sorry I was so focused on the most beautiful woman to ever exist I forgot to be worried about my baby boy. Jaune honey please be ok

AHHHHHHH THE PAPAER PLEASURE IS MADE OF GEMS NOW ITS STURDY NOW AND ITS THE RED ONE AHHHH

RED IS RUBY YELLOW IS YANG BLUE IS WEISS PINK IS NORA FREEN IS REN IM GONNA CRY

AND A PURPLE ONE ITS THE SQUAD AHHHHHHHHHH

OR MAYBE THE RED IS PYRRHA IDK BUT AHHHHH SEE JAUNE SEE

NO FLOOD OR FIRE WILL EVER HURT THEM AGAIN

WHITEKNIGHT SHIPPERS HOW YALL FEELING THIS IS CUTE IM CRYING

GIVE IT UP FOR BEST GIRL SHES GROWN SO MUCH FOR REAL

GROUP HUG WE JUST NEED TO DO THIS FOR RUBY TOO WAAAAAH

ok well no we still need to figure out what the cat wants they don’t know it was trying to possess Ruby hang on

HUUUUUUUH?????????

I’m gonna CRY

HERB

AHHHHHHH LOOK AT THEM

Blake being so tender with Yang and Yang being so so afraid to lose her sister oh my god oh my GOD she’s cradling her face and wiping her tears. Any Yang haters I see will be sent into the pit

So bc Neo’s plan was to kill Ruby, or get rid of her or whatever, she’s empty. Without Roman and without her revenge she has no attachments back on Remnant that would make her want to leave

BUT EHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ALYX BC I FIGURED THE CAT TRIED TO POSSESS HER TOO BUT WHAT

IS SHE REALLY JUNIPER IS THAT WHAT IM HEARING

OH NO IS SHE THE BLACKSMITH

DID THE CAT KILL ALYX??!?!?!?

Cat. If you think Anyone is gonna let you touch Ruby. I’m sorry to Neo’s body but you’re about to be torn to shreds

THIS BITCH DID NOT TURN INTO PENNY EHAT THE FUCK

NOOOOOOOOOOO NONONONO

JAUNE

NOOOOOOOOOOOO BRING HIM BAVK

IS THIS RED LIKE ROSES BITCH

DONT END IT THERE WHAT THE FUCK NOOOOOOOO AHHHHHHHHHHHH

OH BITCH WE GOT THE FULL MODEL WE HAVE THE ARTWORK WE HAVE HER WE GOT SUMMER ROSE AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OH MY GOOOOOOOOD

Oh lordy lordy we have gotten. No /I/ have gotten everything I’ve EVER wanted like. If we ever get a team STRQ flashback I’ll die happily ever after but I know next week will HOPEFULLY be Ruby talking with her mom or something like that. I need smarter ppl to talk about the lore I am too head empty but BABY WE JAVE COMPLETED THE PARENT GAUNTLET WEVE COLLECTED THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE

[benefits1986]

Lucid Dream, Yet Again

Can’t sleep but thankfully, was entertained with a series of ganaps that took my mind and spirit off my lola’s so-called compensating mode era. The past week has been about super long, highly persuasive yet very neutral explanation about what is happening to ina. Hassle kasi healthcare comms dito. Hindi nagaadjust sa life chapter ng families ng patients. Bakit ba wala tayong programs para dito? Bakiiit?! Ako ang POC ng pag-inform sa pinsans about all things happening to ina lalo the bad news. Nag-request kasi dad ko saka Tita ko na ako na lang daw kasi it’s too much for them. JUSQ. Mhie. Ano na? Pero sige, push. Dumami nga lalo blemishes ko lately pero wala na akong paki. Habulin ko na lang ‘pag hupa na ang ganaps.  Dad, as a trueblue basher pero iyak-tawa season niya ngayon. Dad: Grabe ka mag-explain. Parang hindi masakit i-suction. Na-connect mo pa sa baradong washing machine pipe. Tinde mo. Me: I need to be as neutral as I can even when ako alam na alam ko na ang susunod na kabanata. ‘Di ko na need abangan. Also, I would not make a decision sa suction or no suction. Apo lang ako. Kayo ‘yang mga anak niya mag-decide. Not me. ‘Wag ako, dad.  Dad: K. Fine. Tapos iyak-tawa ulit.  My KPI the past week since balik Manila ako is super ugh... finding a way to get all 6 anak ng ina ko in my lola’s home. It was not easy since my dad is running away from the chapter before the final chapter. ‘Di ko siya pinilit or mandate. I talked to him and explained how it is to adult,  even when it hurts so badly.  Actually, lost KPI na ‘yan pero sige, laban natin because mommy’s girl tayo and wala namang masamang i-try. I recounted my hidden stories during mother dragon’s pre-final chapter.  Bottomline: A mom even when she is on her deathbed is still a mom. She wants the kids to be there not because she demands their presence. She wants to be super sure that the kids will power through no matter how badly they will fail during the first dibs on her final chapter. Even when she knows may away mga kids niya, she wants them to stay solid. Syempre, Tagalog ko ‘to sinabi sa dad ko para manamnam niya. :D LELS.  Took dad about close to a week to pack his things like a Prep student on his way to his first summer class. I teased him na lang... Dad, kaya mo na ‘yan. Matanda ka na. ‘Wag mong hayaang mawala sa’yo ang precious chance na nasa tabi ka ng nanay mo. Ako nga, 26 nawalaan ng nanay e. Ikaw swerte mo, 88 years. Sana all.  Dad’s main trauma and drama is simple and heart-shattering: Wala na nga raw siyang asawa too soon, wala pa raw siyang nanay. OUCHIE mhieeee. Pero sabi ko, dad, nadaanan mo na ‘to. Tiwalaan mong andyan si mom sa tabi mo. Ramdamin mo love niya sa’yo dahil sabi mo nga, ayaw niya literal paramdam ever sa’yo ‘di ba?  Soooo, back to the lucid dream bit. Off track na naman ako, but WTH. 

It’s very unusual for me to stay up super late because I am a sleepyhead kaya when I do, sobrang alert mode na po tayo, opo. Had about 2 hours of sleep but grabe... another lucid dream. One of my closest friends wants to dream more lucid dreams, pero ako, to be honest, ayoko. Ayoko talaga pero wala e. Siguro dahil overactive ang imagination ko and empath ako ng ayoko rin namang maging empath to begin with. Hindi ko naman ito honed skill or whatever. Naganap lang siya. :D UGH.  Soooo, my lucid dream is that my lola. UGH. Of all times, why now? Pero eto na nga. I am trying to shut down the flashbacks as soon as I wake up, but, girl, too graphic. In fairness naman sa lucid dream ko na ‘to nag-level up. Dystopian on kinda sepia siya, so may prod paganaps. My lola wore a tattered hospital gown. She lay on a tatami bed. Loose ropes were all over her but she managed to move her hands and take out her shabby oxygen mask. Dried bloodstreaks on her mouth and nose. Poetic nga e if you don’t look at it from a personal viewpoint. Lakas maka Eiga Sai. Siguro naimpluwensiyahan ng PL ko na anime on free TV nung 90s na been listening to nung weekend. In the dream, with my signature RBF I said: Gusto niyo ba talagang nakikita siyang ganyan? It was followede by dead air. 

I felt so neutral but not apathetic. In the dream, I felt total admiration and respect for my lola who is slaying her next chapter like a bad bitch. I felt her power in spite the seeming lose of control. I felt her eagerness to make it through her next chapter. My lola is a woman of few words but she knows when to say no and put boundaries. We are not super close din but close enough na may lambing na lutong ulam up until her Year 85. We bond over extra rice, her favorite ulams --sisig, crispy pata, kare-kare and of course, crispy chicharon. Imagine! At 85 nakakain niya pa ‘yun ng walang putok batok but of course, may maint meds na siya and regular doc visits. She also makes it a point to let us take home her white tilapia and menudo. Siya pa naghuhugas ‘pag may naiwang plato or baso sa lababo.  But when she hit 87, we almost lost her friggin’ pneumonia which is common naman sa geriatrics. LOL. Sabi pa niya  sa surprise birthday party niya, akala raw niya ‘di na siya aabot. Then, andito na kami sa Year 88. Docs told us na last Christmas, just in case may mangyari sa ina ko, mag-ready na raw kami. 

Yesterday, her BP and oxygen levels are down. Hindi na nakabawi. This morning, she has no urine output na.  GAH. To my ina, nasabi ko na ‘yung habilin ko. Kay mother dragon, of all things, sabi ko paki tanggal na yung fucking dysmenorrhea ko kasi mom ko lang and her hand over my puson nakaka-take away nun. Tawang-tawa with amusement and sarcasm dad and kapatid ko about this bit. Wala silang pake. And tradition lang naman siya na I brushed off. My superstitious brother egged me na bumulong so ‘yun talaga laman ng heart ko. LOL. Twisted, I know. Weird pa nga e.  So, ina. We’ve spent a good number of ungodly hours a week or so ago. I have said all that I needed and wanted to say. Wala namang problema sa lucid dreams, tbh. I will visit you soon and don’t worry, for execution na po ang season of adios mo sa universe na ‘to. You deserve to honored. A really good jamming session x praise & worship. Sana aligned lahat to remember your good days because they outnumber the bad and the ugly.  Thank you, ina kasi nasaid mo yata PTSD ko ya ako nag-heal after a decade of drowning and swimming in murky waters na akala ko, ‘di ko na malalampasan. It is not easy, ina, but thank you for allowing me to face you as you welcome your final chapter. Holding your hands and looking at your lined face made me see na, indeed, I am healing nga. Salamat for making me see that I have finally emerged from the dark. My lights and shadows are recalibrated.  Grabe ka, ina. Solid. ‘Di magigiba. Influence at its subtlest, at its finest. See you soon. May need lang akong mga itawid dito sa Manila and nag-align na rin tayo about this. You smiled and nodded pa nga as I told my life’s next era.  Letting you go is not giving you up. See you on the other side pero not soon kasi may mga paganaps pa tayo in the name of being a probinsiyana on bike. 

[onesheeptwosheepandachicken]

by artist Weronika Let’s say Yang found about Raven before Summer’s Death, and they had a heart to heart. Based in part by this fanfic “You are my supermom” https://archiveofourown.org/works/28688685

[chittychittyyangyang]

Mothers

[arc-misadventures]

TEAM SAQR

Jaune replaces, Tai on Team STQR.

Jaune: What’s your problem, Raven?! I haven’t done anything to you, why are you so mean to me?!

Raven: Because your weak! And, I will never respect a weakling as you as my partner!

Jaune: What are you then; one of those, ‘might makes right,’ kind of people?!

Raven: That is the only way; The strong survive, and the weak die! And a weakling like you, will die!

Jaune: Oh, so you think I’m weak?! You think I’m weak, you! You bloody chicken?!

Raven: What did you call me?!

Jaune: A chicken! Bawking chicken!

Raven: Your dead, you hear me!

Jaune: Prove it you clucker!

~~~

Jaune: And, that’s how your mother, and I got together. Technically…

Yang: Really…?

Jaune: Really, really. Isn’t that right, Chicken?

Raven: Shut it you, Motherclucker!

Jaune: Hehehe~!

Raven: Grrr!! Stupid sexy blondes…

Ruby: Is that how you met, Daddy too, Mommy?

Summer: No, something else happened with me.

Ruby: How did it happen then?

Summer: Uhh…

~~~

Summer: …

Jaune: …

Raven: …

Summer: So… You two are dating…?

Jaune: Yes…?

Summer: Why are you answering that like a question?

Jaune: Well… Are we dating, Raven?

Raven: …

Jaune: Raven?

Raven: Yes… yes we’re dating…

Jaune: Awesome!

Summer: Oh, cool…Uhh… Good for you!

Jaune: Thanks.

Raven: T-Thank you…

Summer: So… Do you two often… Tango… when we’re gone?

JR: Yes…

Summer: Oh cool, cool cool cool… So… Mind if I join you then?

Jaune: Eh…?

Raven: Sure, why not.

Jaune: EH?!

~~~

Summer: Uhh… Actually… Let’s go with what they said…

[aspoonofsugar]

I've heard that Mercury and Yang are similar characters in some ways. Can you elaborate?

Hello anon!

Yes, Yang and Mercury are foils and I would be happy to explore their similarities and differences! However, keep in mind that the meat of Mercury’s arc has yet to come hence we have mostly just set up on his part :)

GOING WITH THE FLOW

Yang: The honest reason? I'm a thrill-seeker. I want to travel around the world and get wrapped up in as many crazy adventures as I can. And if I help people along the way, then that's even better. It's a win-win, y'know?

Mercury: Just made sense. All my life, my father trained me to be a killer, an assassin like him. And then moments after I killed him, you two showed up looking for someone with my exact skills. Just felt like it was meant to be.

Yang and Mercury’s answer to why they choose to be respectively a hero and a villain is surprisingly similar and it can be summarized by Yang’s own admission:

Yang: At least you two have something that drives you. I've just kinda of always, gone with the flow, y'know? And that's fine, I mean, that's who I am. But how long can I really do that for?

Both Yang and Mercury lack a strong drive and end up joining their respective sides simply because “it made sense”.

In particular, their choices can be tracked back to their respective family history.

On one hand Yang comes from a family of Huntsmen and Huntresses. Her two moms, her dad and her uncle graduated from Beacon and have all lived as Huntsmen at one point in their lives.

On the other hand Mercury’s father was an assassin that trained Mercury to become one himself. After Merc kills him, he happens to meet Cinder, another killer that takes him in.

So, Yang and Mercury are on opposite paths, but  deep down they are just simply following in their parents’ footsteps. However, blindly following someone’s else way of life can be dangerous:

Raven: Now you're catching on. So far you've done nothing but accept what others tell you, but you need to question everything.

Tyrian: All you ever learned was pain and violence, and now you're too afraid to leave it. Such a tragedy.

Let’s see now why Yang and Mercury are stuck in their parents’ shadows and where their two opposite paths are leading them.

BEING LEFT AND NOT LEAVING

Yang and Mercury’s struggle is rooted in their respective relationships with Raven and Marcus. As a matter of fact, both Raven and Marcus have traumatized their children, even if in opposite ways.

On one hand Raven leaves Yang when she is a new born and never comes back for her. As a result, Yang becomes obsessed with a question:

Blake: Why did she leave you?

Yang: That question... Why? I didn't know an answer, but I was determined to find out. It was all I thought about.

Not only that, but Raven’s abandonment, coupled with Summer’s disappearance and Tai’s depression makes her feel lonely and as if she has to shoulder everything on herself:

It was tough. Ruby was really torn up, but... I think she was still too young to really get what was going on, y'know? And my dad just kind of... shut down.

This ends up with her burning the candle at both ends:

Yang:  I must've walked for hours. I had cuts and bruises, I was totally exhausted, but I wasn't gonna let anything stop me. When we finally got there, I could barely stand, but I didn't care; I had made it. And then I saw them. Those burning red eyes... There we were: A toddler sleeping in the back of a wagon and a stupid girl too exhausted to even cry for help. 

On the other hand Marcus traps Mercury in an abusive relationship, where he is beaten, hated and broken:

Mercury: I'm sorry you didn't have a mommy that loved you, but I had a father who hated me! He never went easy on me! Every day of training was a beating.

Marcus steals Mercury’s legs, so that symbolically his son can’t leave the cycle of abuse. He also takes Mercury’s semblance, so that the child stays to get it back:

Mercury: And when I unlocked my Semblance, he stole it with his! "This is a crutch!" "This makes you weak!" He told me I could have it back when I was strong.

This leads Mercury too to try as hard as he can, but this only hurts him more and more:

Mercury:  So I got strong, but I never got it back!

So, Yang’s trauma is that she was left, while Mercury’s is that he could not leave. They both try to overcome their respective situations by becoming stronger.

Yang must be stronger than anyone, so that she can protect and that she herself does need no protection. If she is strong, then she has worth and doesn’t need to depend on anyone.

Mercury must be stronger than anyone, so that he can hurt and that he himself is not the one hurt. If he is strong, then he has worth and doesn’t need to get his semblance (his own self) back.

If their pain makes them stronger, then their pain makes sense. Then it is not for nothing.

This is well conveyed respectively by Yang’s semblance and Mercury’s weapon.

Burn lets Yang use the damage she receives to become stronger:

Ruby: Don't worry! With each hit she gets stronger, and she uses that energy to fight back! That's what makes her special.

The problem with that is this:

Tai: It's great when you're in a bind, but what happens if you miss? What happens if they're stronger? What then? Now you're just weak and tired!

So, Yang’s semblance highlights her ability to endure pain and use it to grow stronger. However, it also shows that if Yang is not careful, she risks to burn out.

Talaria and Mercury’s prosthetic legs are instead a physical representation of his trauma. First of all, they should be crutches aka tools that help Mercury stand. However, Mercury weaponizes them. Moreover, he specifically uses them to hurt others and drag them down to his level.

In the Vale arc, for example, Mercury’s legs become tools to trick Yang and frame her:

So, Mercury is hurt, but instead of admitting it and of showing others how vulnerable he is, he prefers to just bring pain to others.

This is also why symbolically Mercury hides his prosthetics, while, when she gets it, Yang openly shows hers. Yang is open about her emotions and her wounds, while Mercury dissimulates and hides his, even from himself.

WINNING AND LOSING

Yang being open and Mercury being closed down is well conveyed symbolically by the two scenes above.

On one hand the lava bursts symbolically (and ironically) comment Yang’s own outburst, as she activates her semblance:

Port: Ooh, looks like Yang's angry! And you wouldn't like her when she's... upset.

On the other hand the geysers erupt in Mercury’s fight because of Yatsuhashi hitting his boots with Fulcrum. While this happens, I’m the One plays in the background:

I'm the one That was born in a nightmare a murderer's son Got no gun But I gleam like a blade and I'm harder than iron

So, in both fights the environment tells us something about the characters.

Yang is associated with fire and the moment she attacks and becomes more active, the lava erupts with force.

Mercury is instead associated with air/water and the geysers bursts out the moment he is hit, so when he is acting reactively.

This conveys perfectly how the two characters manage emotions. When she gets angry, Yang becomes impulsive and starts attacking relentlessly. This is shown in all her early fights. Mercury instead suppresses his feelings until he receives a blow so harsh that forces him to explode with violence. This is shown by him killing Marcus after a lifetime of abuse.

This difference leads them to fight in similar and yet opposite ways. This is made clear both visually and in their fights in the Vytal Festival:

Yang is gold, while Merc is silver. Both have similar weapons, but Yang fights mostly with her punches, while Mercury with his kicks.

Yang wins her fights through sheer force and willpower. She endures her opponents’ hits and then uses her semblance as a trump card.

Mercury wins through observation and sticking to a strategy. He uses his speed to avoid being hit and to slowly consume his opponents’ aura.

For example, in the second round of the tournament both Yang and Mercury fight two opponents at once for a short period of time. However, they find themselves in such a situation for opposite reasons.

Yang fights both Flynt and Neon after Weiss is eliminated. She finds strength in her emotions (anger and care for Weiss) and wins also thanks to Weiss’s sacrifice that took down Flynt’s aura by a lot.

Merc fights both Coco and Yatsuhashi as part of his and Emerald’s strategy. In this way, he tires both opponents out and makes an opening for Emerald to strike.

So, Yang is able to take back the rhytm of the fight (literally LOL) and to win, while Mercury wins because he controls the flow of the battle since the beginning.

All these differences (being open/closed and emotions/calculations) come out with force in Yang and Mercury’s fight in the finals.

On one hand Yang puts all of herself in the fight and asks that her opponent does the same:

Yang: You better not go easy on me.

Mercury: You wish.

On the other hand Mercury never puts all of himself in his fights. In this one specifically, his objective is not to win, but to have his aura broken:

So that Yang “breaking his leg” stirs up even more chaos.

These different approaches highlight something interesting.

As stated above, both Yang and Mercury define themselves through their own strength. However, Yang affirms her power by genuinely fighting to win, while Mercury just wants not to lose.

So, Yang takes risks and fights. This results in her experiencing the joy of winning, but also the pain of losing.

Mercury instead puts himself either in fights where he is sure to win (Coco and Yatsuhashi) or in fights where the objective is not winning (Pyrrha, Yang). So, he chooses fights where he can’t really lose. Fights where he does not really have to try.

This is why Mercury can be so laid back in the Vale arc. It is because he does not have to earnestly fight others. So, he does not have to truly face them or his own shortcomings in the process.

In short, Yang puts all of herself out there. She takes real risks and is hurt. Mercury instead doesn’t because he is too scared of pain.

This makes so that Yang ends the Vale arc deeply wounded:

While Mercury leaves Beacon scott free:

However, in the long run this dynamic ends up subverted and the Mistral and Atlas arcs make it clear.

THINKING A LITTLE BIT HARDER

Taiyang: You gotta keep your emotions in check. Keep a level head, and think before you act.

Glynda: Next time, you may want to think a little harder before choosing an opponent.

Both Yang and Mercury are told by authority figures (Tai and Glynda above) that they should think a little bit harder about the way they fight.

Now, these two lines are said in completely different situations. As a result, they have different meanings.

In Yang’s case, Tai’s words get straight to the point. Yang and Tai are training and the father gives the daughter an earnest advice. If Yang wants to grow as a fighter, she should become less impulsive and more strategical.

After all, it is because of her impulsiveness, that she is so easily set up by CEM in the Vytal Tournament. Similarly, it is because she acts out of anger that Adam manages to cut her arm.

In Mercury’s case, Glynda’s words are just missing the point completely. Glynda thinks that Mercury chooses Pyrrha as an opponent out of smugness and that he forfeits without trying when he realizes the difference in level. In her eyes, Mercury is just messing around wasting everyone’s time.

However, this is not how things are. Mercury chooses Pyrrha to discover her semblance, he succeeds and loses on purpose because he has already gotten what he wants.

So, when it comes to a first level of reading, it seems that Yang really has to “become smarter”, while Mercury does not really need to.

The point, though, is that for both characters the idea of thinking a little harder hides two additional meanings.

1)

When it comes to Yang, she has to do this:

Taiyang: But if you just take a second look, then maybe you see...there's a way around as well.

Which sounds a lot like this:

Scathing eyes ask that we be symmetrical, one sided and easily processed. Yet every misshapen spark's unseen beauty is greater than its would be judgement.

So becoming smarter is really about embracing complexity and finding beauty in imperfection:

Yang: I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have assumed.

Weiss: You're right though. I don't know loneliness like you do. I have my own version. And, I'll bet Blake has her own version too

When it comes to Mercury, his problem is the opposite of Yang’s. Yang is too impulsive, while Mercury is not impulsive enough. The problem is not, as Glynda thinks, that he chooses his opponents badly. The problem is that he is so focused on choosing his opponents that he becomes short-sighted. He takes no risks, so he can’t really grow. He can only think about avoiding immediate pain and does not realize he has entered a mechanism that will destroy him, if he does not escape. And the only way to leave such a situation is for him to act on his feelings of care for others.

So, Yang should follow her head more, while Mercury should follow his heart. This is conveyed symbolically by Yang having to use Burn less, while Mercury will most likely have to rediscover his own semblance.

2)

Both kids should think more with their own heads and it is meaningful that they are told so by two key characters for their respective arcs:

Raven: The truth is that "truth" is hard to come by. A story of victory for one person is a story of defeat for someone else. By now, your uncle has surely told Ruby and her friends plenty of stories.

Tyrian: Of course she is! You’re surprised? Salem is destruction incarnate! Our mistress wishes to see the end of it all! There is no ideal more beautiful. If you couldn’t see that from the start, you must be out of your mind.

Raven and Tyrian are interesting in relation to Yang and Merc’s arcs because they tell the kids truths important for their growth, but they also clearly go in the way of said growth.

So, Raven is right about Yang having to ask questions. She is also right about Ozpin hiding secrets. However, she is just trying to manipulate Yang herself. She does not really want Yang to think with her own head. She just wants Yang to agree with her.

Similarly, Tyrian is right about Mercury just blindly following into his father’s footsteps just because he knows no better. He is also right that Mercury is (willfully) ignoring the truth of Salem’s plan. However, he just wants to hurt Mercury and makes sure to trap him.

This is not by chance. As a matter of fact both Raven and Tyrian are framed as bad parental figures to Yang and Mercury. Raven is Yang’s biological mother that left her, while Tyrian is clearly meant as a stand-in of Merc’s abusive father. So, they both act as dark mentor figures, but they are really who Yang and Mercury must not turn into. They are two dark foils of the kids and who Yang and Mercury should overcome if they want to become their own true selves.

STANDING UP

What are the flaws Raven and Tyrian embody in relation to Yang and Mercury?

When it comes to Raven and Yang, it is directly stated in the series:

Taiyang: You both act like the easiest way to tackle an obstacle is through it. That strength is all that matters in a fight.

Raven and Yang’s comparison focuses on the idea of strength. To be more specific their final confrontation in volume 5 highlights the difference between power and strength:

Raven: I've stared death in the face over and over again! And every time I've spat in that face and survived, because I'm strong enough to do what others won't!!

Yang: Oh, shut up!! You don't know the first thing about strength! You turn your back on people, you run away when things get too hard, you put others in harm's way instead of yourself!! You might be powerful, but that doesn't make you strong.

Raven frames herself as strong and smart. She is not scared, but she is simply doing what is necessary:

Raven: That's why I tried to leave when I did. I'm not afraid, I'm smart.

Raven: Man up! You did what you had to do to survive, there is no shame in that.

Well, Yang strips this coping mechanism away from her. She tells her mom the truth: she is just a coward, like Lionhart:

Lionheart: I'm helping her for the same reason you are - I'm afraid. We... we can't stop her... no one can...

Mercury and Tyrian’s comparison must still be explored fully, but some things are already clear.

Tyrian is a stand-in for Marcus. Both men are assassins and have semblances that mess with auras. Marcus could steal semblances, while Tyrian can disrupt auras. So, symbolically, they pray on people’s souls and take away others’ personhood, which is what auras and semblances symbolize.

Marcus wanted Mercury to be his own copy and even after his death, his son is not able to overcome this toxic mindset. Not only that, but sticking to this idea leads Mercury to Salem’s inner circle. Now, if he does not change course, he is bound to turn out exactly like Tyrian.

Specifically, Tyrian shows where Mercury’s current coping mechanism is meant to go.

Right now, Mercury finds himself in a horrifying abusive environment. All the members of Salem’s inner circle can be hurt and punished at Salem’s whim:

Watts: You're joking, how could you know that?

Tyrian: Are you questioning our divine savior?!

Watts: I... Of course not, forgive me.

Hazel: I've been thinking about what you said. If it's a lie and I took that lie to Salem, the punishment would fall on my head before yours.

They are all subjected to Salem’s cruelty and emotional outbursts.

All the members of team WTCH try to cope with it in different ways. Watts, Hazel and Cinder (and Emerald initially) are all promised something in return:

Salem: It's important not to lose sight of what drives us: Love, justice, reverence... But, the moment you put your desires before my own... they will be lost to you. This isn't a threat. This is simply the truth. The path to your desires is only found... through me.

Tyrian is the only one who wants nothing, but to hurt others and enjoy destruction:

Tyrian: "What do you want from this?" Children, please, if you're not loving what you're doing, then you're in the wrong field.

And there is no reason to think this is not true. However, he too is punished by Salem, so how does he cope with it? He tries to be the one in control. So, he enjoys making others suffer and he enjoys his own pain, when he is the one causing it.

However, the moment someone else hurts him:

Tyrian to Ruby: You bitch!

Or he is the one risking punishment:

Tyrian: But-but hope is not lost! My tail, my stinger... I-I poisoned him, Qrow! He would not be a nuisance to you any longer, no... no longer! Have I done well? Have I pleased you?

And in general, when things do not go according to his plans:

Tyrian: The Grimm should have destroyed our enemies, not made them friends!

He is quick to be scared and angry.

Well, this is just an up to 11 version of how Mercury acts. He is laid back and seems not to mind losing... except when he loses for real:

He figths only fights he knows beforehand he can control:

Mercury: Big guy’s not going to pick fights he can’t win, and neither should we.

He is scared of pain, so he tries to act “smart” and to avoid it:

Mercury: Those are Salem’s new orders, and I know better than to disobey Salem.

So, Tyrian is an example of where Mercury’s current mentality leads. It does not lead to safety, but to becoming a broken person that can be disposed of whenever.

Not only that, but this coping mechanism is also the reason why Mercury is stagnating, while Yang is growing.

Look at this scene:

During the Vytal Festival, Yang falls for Mercury and Emerlad’s trap and is framed as a result. At Haven, she does not pay attention to Mercury’s cheap provocation and tricks anymore. The moment she is about to give in to anger, she is able to control herself and simply... lets go of her prosthetic arm.

Yang letting go of her arm is not just her being more level headed. It is also her not being defined by her losses:

Yang: The mechanical parts are just... extra.

Sure, Yang has gone through a highly traumatic experience. However, this trauma won’t go in the way of her own happiness.

Mercury instead can’t let go. Even after killing his father, he is still not acting as he himself is, but as who his father wanted him to be.

However, Mercury will never be able to let go of his trauma if he does not accept it to begin with.

Yang is hurt, suffers, gets angry and takes risks. This brings pain, but also helps her grow. She learns from her set-backs and becomes a stronger person as a result.

Mercury instead chooses to ignore his own wounds. He does not treat them, so they are festering.

Yang feels and communicates. Mercury chooses not to. This is why Yang is blooming into an adult, while Merc risks to turn into a man-child.

So, Yang is able to face Raven in volume 5 and she symbolically overcomes her mother. She grows into her own person:

Raven: I'm sure they told you plenty, and you just sat and obeyed.

Yang: No, I'm starting to ask questions like you said. So tell me... what happened to the last Spring Maiden? Did she die in battle? Was it sickness?

Yang uses Raven’s words against her. She shows that becoming smarter does not mean to simply accept Raven’s version as the truth. It means questioning both sides and coming up with a personal interpretation of reality:

Play both sides (play both sides) When truth you cannot recognize

Only in this way, through knowledge, one can make an informed choice. Only in this way one can make their own choice. And Yang’s choice is to be a Huntress:

Yang: Because you're afraid of Salem!!! And if you thought having Maiden powers put a target on your back, imagine what she'll do when she finds out you have a Relic. She'll come after you with everything she has. Or she can come after me. And I'll be standing there, waiting for her.

Raven: You don't want to do this, Yang.

Yang: Nope. But I'm gonna do it anyway.

Yang might initially have signed up for Beacon superficially (even if still with good intentions), but in volume 5 she finds her drive once and for all.

Mercury instead is still lacking a strong drive:

Tyrian: Do what makes you happy children... please? I'm begging you...

In other words, he keeps going with the flow, quite literally since in his last appearance he is physically dragged away:

If he wants to grow, he needs to do like Yang.

He needs to face himself and to choose who he wants to be with his own head. He needs to recognize the truth in Tyrian’s words, but also to use these same words and ideas against Tyrian himself. He needs to refuse the kind of man Tyrian is.

In order to do so, Mercury has to learn what strength really is about. Strength is not power, it is about standing up for yourself and doing the right thing:

Raven: Who do you think you are, lecturing me?! Standing there, shaking like a scared little girl?!

Yang: Yeah, I'm scared. But I'm still standing here!

Only in this way Mercury can truly turn into himself.