#weiss is having fun being reckless

[asmallermorehonestsoul]

Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes and Huntsmen, Part Two Review

Upon escaping from the digital recreation of Remnant created by Kilg%re, the Justice League awaken to find their world under attack by the Grimm. Meanwhile, Team RWBY, who are now in Vacuo, receive a message from the Justice League that Earth is in danger. Upon arriving, the team splits up to deal with the Grimm; Ruby Rose and Superman go to fight a new Grimm, Weiss searches for anti-venom from a unique Death Stalker for Batman, Blake Belladonna teams up with Green Lantern and Cyborg to find a sea monster in Gotham, and Yang Xiao Long joins the others in fighting Grimm in Central City. During all of the chaos, everyone eventually learns who Kilg%re's mysterious partner that trapped him in the simulation with them actually is.

So we have a recap opening from Ruby with the basic world of Remnant and the plot of the first movie before we get back to Earth. Black Canary! Fun to see her, nice of the others to get her up to speed about what happened with the Grimm apparently now on Earth. Grimm in Gotham is not good, lots of negativity there, and these are some pretty gnarly species. And you have to laugh at Vixen making the ‘Brothers Grimm’ joke, though Jinn already got there in the Lost Fable. Of course Kilg%re did not take his defeat in the last movie well, and all these mutated Grimm are his new plan. Unfortunately, a mutated Deathstalker gets Batman. Flash is also not doing well after spending most of the first movie as Kilg%re’s puppet, and I imagine that would be pretty tough to get over. On the RWBY side, we land in Vacuo, post Volume 9, with Ruby acting reckless in the fights against the Grimm and _WBY is not happy. Between this and the Boba short from RWBY Beyond, it’s safe to say her issues did not magically go away after the pep talk with the Blacksmith, and I hope we can get a Volume 10 to see that in the main series. Weiss is not doing well with Atlas' fate but at least she can talk to Klein about it. I loved her contact photos, and seeing Vacuo architecture was cool!

Then comes the reunion! Jess missing Jaune was sweet, too bad they couldn’t be there this time. I did love Blake listening to the locks and then just smashing it, also her blush at Yang winking at her was cute. The fight against the security droids was cool, and of course there was some time weirdness between the two worlds. But now it’s RWBY's turn to be in a new place! Blake and Yang panicking over her missing cat ears was hilarious. As was Ruby trying to see what powers she has, sorry Rubes, no flight for you. Also I love the shout-out to the Titans!

Making the plans was neat, though seeing Harley and Joker together felt… weird, even if it was just a quick shot of them enjoying the chaos. Very thoughtful of the League to give our girls weapons, though unfortunately for Yang and Weiss, they did not charge Captain Cold and Heat Wave’s guns. Well at least Yang got neat fire powers, but poor Weiss had no such luck! Ruby definitely fared better with what I’m assuming was Scarecrow’s scythe. Blake's new shadow manipulation powers were cool, and I loved the little wings she gave herself!And that staff and sword she wielded looked like they belonged to one Deathstroke/Slade Wilson. There is some definite irony in that considering his relationship with Terra in the original Judas Contract… and on that, her kicking the sword at the Feilong definitely reminded me of Adam’s opening move in the Black trailer of using his gun-sheath (Oh RWBY) to launch his sword at the enemy. It was funny to have our girls trying to get used to Earth. I did laugh at Yang still dissing aliases with the Weather Wizard and Mirror Master.  Also Blake dissing Gotham and saying she understood Batman now, when they had lower Mistral for crime rates and economic divide. And poor Weiss trying to talk out her feelings over Atlas, but Batman was a bit busy being poisoned to talk it out. The way she got the Deathstalker was so smart and of course Watts couldn't resist reusing ideas.

And I loved the little talks we got as they recovered and regrouped. Yang talking about recovering from traumatic experiences with Barry, Ruby and Clark talking about loss and how to keep going in a tough job, Weiss and Bruce talking about how the way you grow up affects you and you still have to make your own way in the end, it was all very touching. I think that something that makes this crossover fun for me as a fan of both franchises. The worlds are different, but similar enough that we can have these interesting moments and dynamics, same as the last movie.

The final showdown was cool! I did like how Croc and the Rogues were helping, that was fun. So Watts prepared for his possible death and wanted to get out from Salem's death to do his own damage? Well, as a reason for getting this crossover going, I’ll allow it. I guess it does make sense, even though his pride making him underestimate Cinder is what gets him killed in the original. And just like with Cinder, Kilg%re and Watt’s partnership does not go smoothly, very shocking. I did love the sister moments with Yang and Ruby. Yang is pretty strong, and has worked through a lot of her issues with their moms, but of course she still worries over Ruby. And I’m always here for sibling content! It was also nice that Flash could find his strength and face Kilg%re again. Kilg%re was… less good at trying to be Yang than he was Barry, and Blake was not fooledAnd of course we set Kilg%re, who hates being called an idiot, on Watts, who has to act like he’s leagues  smarter than everyone else, classic. So I guess they’re stuck driving each other crazy in that digital dimension? Alright, that works.

The ending scene was cute! Celebratory hugs and Bees kiss! And now RWBY says goodbye to their friends because they have to go home to Remnant and the League have to go kick Luthor’s ass.

This was a fun duology. Like I said, I enjoyed the character elements and dynamics it allowed the writers to explore, and there were some great fight scenes. As a fan of both franchises, it was cool to see the characters work together in fights and play off each other emotionally. And some fun humor for both sides trying to understand the others’ world. All in all a good time.

[rwbyfan1999]

Justice league X RWBY pt 2 thoughts

I know I’m late to the party but I’ve finally got around to watching the second JL X RWBY movie and man did I love it, I loved it so much that after watching it I watched them both back to back and I’m not gonna do a review this time I’m just gonna give you my impressions on what part 2 brought to the table.

There will be spoilers so you’ve been warned in case you didn’t see it.

So time on remnant work’s differently then earth 3 days on earth equals 3 weeks on remnant so the time gap on remnant makes sense especially to get some V8 and V9 stuff thrown in

Great to see Black Canary thrown in I just wish Green Arrow would have appeared he’s mentioned but I would’ve loved seeing these married dorks together again

It was awesome to get a taste of Vacuo even if it’s super brief

Ruby is confident again which is awesome but she was also being insanely reckless while Yang’s protective instincts are not making her fully trusting of her leadership, given everything that happened in the ever after it makes sense for Yang’s character

Dc villains helping the league against a common enemy is pretty awesome

Man I feel sad for Weiss losing Atlas in this movie

Cute seeing Jessica ask about Jaune really wish JNR could’ve gone to earth

Man team RWBY’s super hero costumes look awesome, still weird seeing Blake without her cat ears but i quickly got used to it

Weiss not having powers is interesting and makes her little arc with Batman interesting sense now the roles are reversed

So Watts helped Kilg%re super surprised to see that

Blake gets 5 points for the reference to Dr Merlot and giving us some Grimm Eclipse representation (still love that game)

Love Ruby and Clark’s talk in the training room telling her that it’s ok to honor your family just don’t be in a rush to join them

Weiss and Bruce will alway’s be fun to watch and he helps Weiss realize where her true home was by the end, in his own way of course

Flash’s PTSD from being controlled by Kilg%re in part 1 plays a big part in this movie and Yang steps in to tell him her struggles, without directly talking about Adam or Raven, just to tell him to not let kilg%re consume his thoughts

The idea of the league using the digital world against Kilg%re and Watts was an interesting twist

Ruby and Yangs heart to heart moment is sweet, Ruby just telling Yang that she can’t protect her from everything and that she’s not gonna leave her

Having the end be at the Schnee manor felt full circle for both Weiss’s arc in the movie and the Atlas trilogy in general

Kilg%ore controlled Yang was crazy and Blake new like instantly, god she knows her girlfriend crazy well which is super cute

Trapping Kilg%re and Watts in the digital realm for good was an excellent way to cap the dualogy up

Another bee kiss need I say more?

All in all I’m very satisfied with this one and can see the development done for Ruby, Weiss, and Yang carry over into V10 especially Weiss

Stay awesome

[koi-koi-fish]

Youjo Senki college AU. Airsoft playstyles

Tanya: that one fucker who wears a ghillie suit that's never seen the entire game.

Visha: Likes yelling "It's high noon" before shooting someone.

Weiss: balls to the wall reckless. He already had the tactical experience in the military. He's just here to have fun. Likes yelling "Leroy Jenkins".

Neumann: Somehow the sneakiest guy there despite being a walking wall. Likes to tap people on the shoulder before shooting them.

Koenig: Cringe. Says "nothing personal, kid" when sneaking up on someone. Yells "Yeet" when throwing a smoke grenade. Makes vague meme and anime references no one gets. Does fortnight dances.

[wintereign]

you've got this! i know you do! (From Ruby)

Have more fun, they said. Always studying and keeping to herself, never partaking in the activities Ruby and Yang came up with. Not that you could blame her, they were always ridiculous and they often got scolded by teachers for being reckless (not to mention, having landed in detention several times). And it wasn't unusual for Yang to challenge anyone she sees fit to a battle in one of her stupid video games and Weiss finally fell victim to it. Yang refusing to back down until the heiress said yes.

"Oh come on, Weiss. Live a little." Perhaps it was to get the blonde to stop hovering over her shoulder and yelling into her ear, while she was attempting to do the assignment Port had assigned. She heaved a sigh, slammed the book shut, icy hues glaring at her teammate. "Fine, if it gets you to shut up." Of course, Yang took that as a win.

Now, mid battle and Weiss was losing terribly. In her defense, she was never introduced to video games until now. And Yang's directions were terrible, and Ruby's back seat cheering was driving her insane. Their team leader having arrived in their dorm the moment the game had fired up. "You're not helping, Ruby." She snapped back at her, taking her eyes off the screen for a moment, before turning her attention back to the screen, her fingers dancing across her scroll, in attempts to land a hit.

[rwby-encrusted-blog]

Yeah! Like When Jaune is talking to Ren about Weiss in the early volumes, someone who's reckless and uncaring would've just said "Pyrrha's into you Jaune!" Unlike Nora who suggested Jaune look for another date, someone close by. She didn't want to spill Pyrrha's business, just tried to make Jaune look a little closer.

And to bring more of a comparison between Ren and Nora, While Nora uses Magnhild which needs all the awareness you mentioned to cause as little collateral damage as possible, and when damage is caused by her, it's intentional.

Such as in Players and Pieces, when her and Jaune need to cross the gap to help Pyrrha and Ren, she makes sure Jaune isn't gonna move, before launching both of them using the bridge like a see-saw, or when they're in Atlas and she's stuck behind the Electrical Shield between The Ace-Ops and Penny, she intentionally lets herself be hurt in order to help. She wouldn't have done that to herself for fun.

Now Ren uses automatic pistols with Bayonets. He lacks the same sheer force and versatility as Nora has, meaning he need to be 'less safe' (AS these are still weapon we're talking about) He doesn't need to be as aware of his Friends placements, so long as they aren't "In a line ahead of him" and "Within Arm's reach"

Ren has a 'higher' allowance of mistakes - a single round into a teammate or reactive slash isn't going to deal nearly the same damage Magnhild would.

Ren, who's far less immediately dangerous than Nora, Doesn't need to as much of an eye out because of he's far less likely to cause major damage anyway. (Not to say he can't hurt people, or that he's exempt from taking safe precautions, again STILL KNIVES AND GUNS) Yet he's the one who's generally written as smarter, kinder, and more direct than Nora.

Nora, who has a far higher likelihood of hurting someone in a moment of thoughtlessness, who's shown that, despite her willingness to be violent and readiness to cause chaos and destruction in spite of the social norms, Seems to be just as smart as Ren, and to some degree Kinder and more aware than him, though that may just her more outgoing personality allowing her to realize those kindnesses.

She calms him down when they're Fighting the Nuckelavee, She realizes She's the only one able to open the door fast enough in Atlas, she loves Oscar (being the first to show excitement over Finding him in Argus) and when RWBYJ doesn't come through the Portal in volume 8 she breaks down harder than anyone else.

Nora may generally be Bubbly and Eccentric, but never has shown carelessness when it comes to her friends and their feelings, even when she disagrees with them.

I thing I try to do when I write Nora (outside of shitposts) is that I try to make her confident and deliberate, not Reckless. Yes, she does do things that are dangerous, crazy, and even some things with "A high potential for property damage and personal injury" But that's very likely the intent of what she's doing (Unless she doesn't know what she's doing, and just trying to find out after she fucks around.)

She won't endanger anyone she doesn't think can take the hit. Everything she breaks she intends to break.

She'll make a bunk bed be an ACTUAL bunk bed, because just stacking two beds on each other is very dangerous.

She might make a bomb, but she'll make sure it only goes off when she wants it to.

She might break a leg, but it's a leg she intended to break.

Very little she does is unintentional. She's Energetic and chaotic, not Dumb and inconsiderate.

[doemii]

WEISS DAY 💙 HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIRTHDAY GORL ..

[bug-the-chicken-nug]

Thinking about a RWBY au where people with unlocked Aura can fuse, SU-style, but typically without developing extra limbs/features, and with the resulting size increase being much smaller. (basically, they briefly break down into glowy Aura-mass and then recombine. Weapons optionally can too, if they're made with materials Aura-conductive enough for the breakdown to work.)

At first this was about cool combined Semblances, and it still kind of is, but now I'm more focused in on the dynamics. And how they'd be kind of a mess, for *spice*.

Renora is fused practically all the time and it's lowkey-highkey unhealthy, mentally speaking. They both clearly hate being unfused and tend to be kinda jumpy and anxious on their own, even though a lot of academic tests and assignments require them to unfuse.

But their friends and teammates are hardly equipped to properly sit them down and call them out on it, because it turns out All of them have a hard time being Normal About Fusing in some way

Each fusion can use their Semblances separately or combine them, the effects of which may vary in predictability, since each component's effects often kind of " stretch" and take on looser, more metaphorical qualities to smoothly combine.

So, Renora's fused Semblance is "Grimm Jamming", an effect that is not actually electrical anymore, but retains an electrical aesthetic. Rather than cloaking people, it just makes all Grimm in the area of effect unable to sense anyone for a while, with the major upshot being that it can simply be used once rather than needing to be a sustained effort.

When the effect is concentrated enough, it's also able to cause pain and disorientation to Grimm.

"Jyrrha"/sometimes jokingly called "Prawn" is barely any better once it happens for the first time, because Pyrrha's lonely and easily addicted to the feeling of the mental bond kinda speedrunning a deep companionship and no-strings-attached acceptance, while Jaune's addicted to the confidence and composure.

Of course, at first they just have souped-up Polarity, but if Pyrrha were to survive, they'd get "Aurakinesis".

The ability to push and pull Aura.

Its only balances are their moral code and their inexperience with it, because in theory, it's just as busted as it sounds.

Ruby likes fusing with Yang a Little Too Much, and their resultant fusion tends to be a little TOO reckless and energetic, especially because it also gets *even faster* upon taking damage.

Yang is kinda self aware about it and kinda tries to avoid it, but on the other hand, it's hard to resist the simple fact that it's also just plain fun as hell for her.

Blake is always reluctant to fuse and has trouble determining the line between "excessive paranoia" and "reasonable caution and skepticism". Followed by the reveal that she also used to be kind of addicted to being fused with Adam, before the Drama, which is then followed by Yang fusion kind of just re-enabling her repressed addiction with a new outlet. (And Yang ALSO becomes Less Normal about fusing once this is something they consistently do)

Weiss spends a good while at first being insufferably pushy with anyone she fuses with, and then blaming the resultant shitty experience on them, but also all while transparently thirsting big time over the desire to fuse with Pyrrha.

[lucytara]

Yeah I get wanting some variation in your writing and whatnot. Hmm.

Gold. "I defy you. I defy your god. The laws of the universe said my love was gone from me. I said watch me save her." Bumbleby.

Have fun!

it’s possible. that i went. a little overboard with this prompt. 

"I defy you. I defy your god. The laws of the universe said my love was gone from me. I said watch me save her."

All four candles are lit in the corners of the small room, wicks burning purple and melting black wax. Her offering sits in a dish at the feet of the small statue - an old, worn piece of paper, bent and torn around its edges - and she herself kneels in the center of the floor, her hands clasped.

“I’ve never done this,” she begins, “but my name is Yang Xiao Long, and I humbly request an audience.”

Nothing happens, though she isn’t sure what she would’ve expected even if it had; the flames flicker with her unsteady heartbeat, the blood in her ears crashing as if waves in a storm. For some reason it’s embarrassing, calling on a higher entity who decides to put you through to voicemail.

She tries again, and aims for theatrical exaggeration; maybe the gods like a bit of a show. If she’s making a fool of herself, she might as well do it brilliantly. “O, Great Goddess! I call upon thee - All-Knowing Ruler of the Dead, Empress of the Night, Most Holy Lady of Darkness, Reigning Queen of Entropy--”

“I think that’s probably enough,” a voice comes from in front of her, amusement evident beneath its tone. “What was that one in the middle? ‘Empress of the Night’? I might keep that.”

Her head whips up towards the sound, and a woman in a deep purple cloak is leaning against her own statue, arms crossed and watching her performance with a look that can only be described as shameless delight. Gorgeous black hair framing golden eyes, like the sky wrapping itself around stars; the statue doesn’t do her justice.

“Oh my God,” Yang says, sitting back on her heels. All the preparation and rehearsing she’d done isn’t enough to conquer the shock of a beautiful, unearthly woman appearing in front of her and--

“Yes, I get that a lot.”

--mercilessly mocking her.

“Well, Yang Xiao Long?” the woman continues. “Why have you called upon me?”

“How do you know my name?” Yang says stupidly.

“I’m a god,” the goddess replies, a smile pulling at a corner of her mouth. “I’m the all-knowing ruler of the dead or whatever. Also, you said your name when you summoned me.”

“Fuck,” Yang says, struggling to regain her composure and failing spectacularly. “I - yeah. Right. Okay. Is it rude to swear in front of gods? And what do I call you?”

“I’ll allow it,” the woman says. “And you can call me Blake.”

“Blake,” Yang repeats; her hands open and close like a nervous tick. The name is a heavy weight in her mouth, settling her into steadiness. “I’ve come to request guidance.”

“Guidance?” Blake repeats, and gently lifts the note from the offering dish, turning it carefully around her hands without opening it to read it - she doesn’t need to. Yang registers faint surprise in her expression; yes, she’d assumed the sentimentality would fetch a rather large price. “This is quite the payment.”

“It’s the last note I have from someone who loved me,” Yang says. “I figured it would be sufficient.”

Those bright, inquisitive eyes glance over to her, and now the playing field has been reversed: intrigue and curiosity outweigh Yang’s atrocious initial delivery.

“Stand, please,” Blake commands softly. “I want to get a good look at you.”

Obediently, Yang rises to her feet, and with an odd jolt realizes she’s a few inches taller than the goddess. It’s unexpected, and it seems to unnerve Blake for a moment, too. Or maybe that’s the candlelight, throwing shapes and colors, turning the room cavernous. Maybe Blake is shrinking and she’s growing. Maybe once she was so tall the entire world trembled beneath her feet.

“You already have power,” Blake says, circling her curiously, and now she’s seeing what isn’t visible, looking for handprints on her soul. “You have been claimed. Whom do you answer to?”

“I didn’t receive this power from a god,” Yang says quietly. “I’ve had it as long as I can remember.”

“That’s impossible,” Blake says, and her gaze is piercing into Yang’s heart; she sees its strength, but she sees its scars, too. And its emptiness. There is plenty of that.

“Touch me,” Yang says. “You’ll find no prior claim.”

“I don’t need to.” Blake takes another step closer to her, the way you’d inspect a painting in a museum. Hands at her sides, cautious of glass and rope. “I can see your aura. But it’s impossible.”

“I’m looking for something,” Yang says, and Blake glances up, briefly meeting her eyes. “I don’t know what it is. But I’ve been looking for something for what feels like my entire life.”

Quizzical, now. One by one the candles are burning down. The room is collapsing in on them, or perhaps that’s simply the god in front of her, looking like she’d dive into Yang’s veins and unravel her if it were permitted.

“Why me?” Blake asks finally. “You know what I’m the goddess of, don’t you?”

“You guard death,” Yang says, her voice impossibly gentle; dusk flows river-like from her mouth. There is a world Blake can almost see. “But you can’t guard death without also guarding life, right? I don’t know what I’m looking for, but whatever it is, I imagine you encompass it.”

“Poetic,” Blake responds, and waits further. “I would like the truth, please. Our time is running short.”

There’s no point in playing games with gods. “The truth is stupid,” Yang says bluntly, and the corner of Blake’s mouth tilts again.

“Try me.”

“I’ll make you a deal,” Yang says, and Blake’s eyebrows raise in amusement. Bold, reckless, and absolutely pushing her luck to the furthest corners it can inhabit. “Accept me as yours, and when the time is right, I will tell you the truth.”

“Is the truth that powerful?” Blake says, curious despite herself.

The last candle flutters, throwing shadows from Yang’s eyelashes to her cheek. “I think it is.”

--

“Welcome back, Empress of the Night,” Ruby says upon her return to the Kingdom, giving her an exaggerated bow. “I hope you enjoyed your summon, My Lady of Perpetual Darkness.”

“What the hell was that about?” Weiss asks. “I haven’t even heard you crack a joke for, like, a millennia, and suddenly you’re the court jester?”

“She was amusing,” Blake says, shrugging. “Usually people are so timid and terrified. I felt like having some fun.”

“You?” Weiss says dubiously.

“Shut up, Weiss,” Ruby says. “You mustn’t speak that way to Our Patron Saint, Duchess of Death.”

“Now you’re not even trying.”

“Don’t you both have work to do?” Blake says, ending the interrogation before it can really begin. She’s not sure she’d have the answers for them, anyway.

--

Yang journeys east.

Find me again, Blake had said. The closer you get to my temple, the more I can see of you. She’d brushed aside Yang’s bangs, touched a single finger to her forehead. It felt like a teardrop, or a meteor shower. It felt like digging up a grave, or chiseling into stone. It felt like the last explosion. It felt like the first breath.

You are mine, Blake had said, and something about it had felt far too right.

She crosses from Sanus to Anima, spends days traversing forests and mountains, fending off bandits and monsters. Eyes flashing red and fire licking up her skin. Aura glowing golden before breaking. There is something wrong with the trees, she thinks; there is something wrong with the sky. Like I’m looking at them from the wrong side.

Nobody is there to answer her, and not for the first time, she wonders how she came to be so alone.

--

Blake watches Yang’s power unveil itself from above. Yang is hers, now, and though she can’t make house calls to the world below without a summon, she at least has instant access to her claims. There aren’t many of them, and Yang is different.

It reminds her of the God of Vengeance, almost - how he absorbs power before returning it, strike by vicious strike - but Yang’s is personal, sacrificial. She feels the pain before she can utilize it, and her anger is never cruel, her actions never misplaced. And she doesn’t complain.

Sometimes, Blake wishes she would: she can hear when she’s being talked to, even if she can’t respond. Every prayer, every curse, every devastation, every hope.

She waits for the sound of Yang’s voice, but it never comes.

--

There’s a small shrine in a village called Shion, which is still weeks out from the docks where she can potentially get a ferry to Menagerie, but the locals are kind, and honor her far too greatly for being touched by their ruling god. They direct her to their place of worship deep in the woods, and leave her without looking back. It’s a sacred thing, a bond between a god and their chosen, and law forbids them from watching her ceremony.

Yang pulls the candle from her pouch, lighting it at the foot of the shrine. She kneels down on the stone, worn with the imprints of a thousand prayers, and says, “Blake.”

“I was wondering when I’d hear from you again.” The voice comes almost immediately, as if its owner had been waiting to be beckoned.

It’s still a bit of a shock, though she’s much better prepared for it this time. “Hi,” Yang says, and stops there before she can fuck it up.

“Hi,” Blake says, and seems to be amused against her will. More guarded, less open. Yang can read the warning signs, but she’ll cut them off at the source.

“I’m sorry,” she says, and she means it, getting to her feet. “If I waited too long to contact you, I mean. I’m...not familiar with this area.”

“Don’t worry,” Blake says, lowering her arms. “It’s only been a few weeks. I won’t smite you until at least a month.”

Yang laughs, and unexpectedly to the both of them, Blake goes deadly still. Her body language says Yang’s done something wrong, but her expression says she’s hearing music.

The candle is burning. The moment can turn itself over gently, if Yang knows how to guide it. She keeps her smile on, but makes it quiet. “You know, I didn’t expect the Goddess of Death to have a sense of humor.”

It seems to work. “I like to surprise people,” Blake says, and moves closer. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“You never talk to me,” she says, pretending to be in control of something she clearly isn’t. “Why not?”

Only the forest speaks for a moment, branches creaking, leaves rustling. And then: “Do you want me to?” Yang asks.

“It’s...something people tend to do,” Blake says slowly. “But not you.”

“I didn’t want to bother you,” Yang says.

“It’s not a bother.” The words come out too quickly, tone too reassuring. Blake’s own want is what laces the conversation, rather than Yang’s uncertainty. That’s a new, dangerous line.

Yang takes a careful step forward, her eyes lowered to the ground as if in apology; they raise slowly, trailing over Blake’s form until meeting her gaze. Looking for lines she’s crossed, and should step back over; searching for lights that say go. Instead, she only finds an intense, hungry confusion - I want it without understanding what it is.

“You know,” she murmurs, “these statues - they never do you justice.”

And she lifts a hand to Blake’s cheek, hesitating over her skin - is that Blake’s catch of breath, or is it the wind? - before gently cupping it in her palm. She could lose an arm for this; touching a god without being explicitly asked is the greatest sin a mortal can commit, but Blake only stands there, unmoving, eyes wide and lips parted, the moon sitting in the hollow of her throat.

“Blake,” she whispers, and it can only be a god’s strength keeping her voice steady, “I’m never not thinking of you.”

The candle goes out.

--

Nobody is waiting for her when she returns. This is how gods give each other gifts - by saying, no, I see everything but I didn’t see you.

--

Yang starts talking to her, and changes her routes so that rather than taking the most direct path to Menagerie, she’s able to stop at some of the smaller shrines on the way. There are only two more, and she hasn’t called Blake since Shion. Yang hopes she’ll still come.

“Isn’t it strange,” Yang says, “how much easier it is to think about someone than to talk about them? I think about you differently than I can talk about you. I don’t even know if that makes sense.”

No response; not that she expects one. At this point, she assumes Blake’ll just kill her if she gets too annoying. Maybe a tree will fall on her, or she’ll do something embarrassing like trip over a rock and break her neck. “I can’t remember much about my life. I know there were people I loved, but I can’t see their faces. I must’ve traveled a lot; I don’t like sitting still. I don’t know how old I am, or even when my birthday is.” She’s never admitted this before; never admitted she came to lying on the ground, with only her name left ringing in her skull and a note in her pocket.

“I think you’re beautiful,” she tells the warm night air. “That’s what I was trying to say. Before. Blake, I think you’re beautiful.”

A star shoots across the sky, light trails leaving imprints against the swirling blue-purple-black of the galaxy, but it must be a coincidence.

--

Another shrine, another candle. This one burrowed into the side of a mountain, a dome of a room with a hand-woven rug for kneeling, several long benches behind. The statue sits against the far wall, centered.

“They’re getting better,” Yang says, getting to her feet. “This one, at least, gets your eyes right.”

“Hm,” Blake says, pressing her lips together. She moves to stand next to Yang rather than in front of her, and they both examine the statue together. “I suppose you’d know, wouldn’t you?”

“Were the compliments too much?” Yang asks, impressed with how light her voice sounds. She nudges Blake’s elbow with her own. Oh, she’ll see how much distance she can cross. She’s already walked miles - she’ll swim oceans, too. “You said you wanted me to talk to you.”

“I didn’t say that,” Blake denies unconvincingly, and then pauses. “And in regards to your first question - I didn’t say that, either.”

Yang could tease her - so even gods like being called pretty, huh - or she could be brave, turn to Blake, take her face in both of her hands and lean in--

“Yang,” Blake says, and does step one of that plan by turning to her. “What do you want from me?”

Maybe the idea’s overwhelmed her to the degree that she can no longer see its risks - its potentially horrible, literally life-ending consequences - and that's what drives her to do it. Maybe it’s that Blake is looking at her like a poem; something beautiful, not to be understood by anyone but the artist who made her.

“What would you do if I kissed you?” Yang says, as if it were merely an interesting, hypothetical concept to explore and not the end of the world. “Is that possible, even if you wanted me to?”

This room is warm and close and silent. The clay is cracking where the floor meets the walls. A tunneled-through skylight is the only thing that keeps Blake from swallowing the place in shadows, instead coating them in an amber, dream-like glow. Like if you mixed the two of them together, you’d still be left with light.

“I think,” Blake murmurs, “we’re both going to have to find that out.”

Step two of her plan. Both of her hands cupping Blake’s cheeks. She’s strangely aware of her lifelines - do they mean anything to you, she wants to ask, does my life mean anything to you now and if it doesn’t, will my death - she leans in, their noses brushing, Blake’s breathing as if she needs to, Yang isn’t and she does; teach me about magic, teach me about memory, tell me how I knew you before I knew myself--

Blake kisses her, tired of her caution and hesitancy, lips parting and fists knotting around the fabric of her shirt. Yang expects them to crash together, like comets. She expects them to crumble and collapse under the impact, buried in the ruins of each other and suffocating. She expects them to decay there, reveling in their own destruction.

What she doesn’t expect is sunlight.

Her skin set aflame, Blake’s tongue in her mouth, hands traveling from her face to her lower back and pressing close - somewhere a rule is being written about the gods and desperation - Blake pulls away, gasps, her fingers begging for Yang’s heart.

“This power,” she says, mesmerized, staring at things only she can see, golden gossamer roots running up Yang’s veins. “Where did you get it?”

“I don’t know,” Yang breathes out, and kisses her one last time before the candle burns out. “But I swear I’ve never felt closer to finding out.”

--

Nobody attempts to stop her from barging through God’s door. Weiss and Ruby, Sun and Neptune; they all avert their eyes. I see everything, but I do not see you.

“What is she?” Blake asks, standing before them with her head bowed. “Please, God. I need to know.”

“If you weren’t already sure,” God says, “you wouldn’t be here.”

She hates it when they’re right.

--

Yang hits the docks; situated on the outskirts of a fishing village called Ito, and with constant transport to Menagerie, their shrine to Blake is the largest one yet.

“And this one?” Blake asks, before Yang has even begun to pray.

“How did you do that?” Yang says, staring up at her, startled. “Are we, like, super close now?”

“Shut up,” Blake says, but she’s smiling. She extends a hand, helping Yang to her feet. “Your soul calls me. You barely even have to light the candle, anymore.”

The sound of the ocean knocks on the door; the smell tackles the windows. Above, the seagulls are crying out, angry at all the fish they can’t have. Yang says, “Hi.”

“Hi,” Blake says, and kisses her. Soft and chaste. Something so human and so immortal. “I missed you.”

“I’m your favorite, aren’t I?” Yang teases, her fingers catching Blake’s chin in her hands.

“No,” Blake says, and for the first time, smiles with her teeth. Oh, this is happiness. “I do this with everyone who requests my presence. I’m very popular.”

“I can imagine,” Yang says, brushing a thumb across her bottom lip. “So what else are you the god of?”

“You had a few of them right,” Blake says nonchalantly, settling against Yang’s body. She could be taller, if she wanted to be, but there’s so much beauty to see when looking up. “Night, and all things within it. Darkness, shadows. Death.”

“What else?” Yang says, watching her mouth shape every letter.

“Forgiveness, and justice,” Blake murmurs. Oh, there’s a fine print for this, and she’s violating every word. “Promises,” she continues. “Seduction.”

Hook, line - a heavy wave rattles the walls; oh, the sea, the sea! - Yang shudders against her mouth, salt sinking into her blood. Leaves her bouyant and floating, the earth bubbling up beneath her. Rising and rising and rising.

“Shockingly,” Yang says, letting Blake press kisses into the crook of her neck, “I don’t find that hard to believe.”

--

“God,” Blake finds herself standing before them once again, hands clasped and head bowed. She speaks formally in the presence of God, as is customary of respect. “Please, God. I am supposed to be guiding her, but I fear all I’ve done is lead her astray. I need to know where she came from, and where she is going.”

“Blake,” God says, and touches the top of her head with their hand, “she is close to your temple. Look at her, and tell me what you see.”

--

Menagerie is a busy, populated island, and Blake’s temple is the primary reason for that. Pilgrimages are made from around the world to pray at her shrine and leave offerings at her feet. Protect me from loss, help me navigate my grief, let me fulfill my promise.

Yang is none of those things. And when the keepers of the temple ask the reason for her journey, she says, “I am in love with her.”

“You have been touched,” one says, and bows to her upon entry. “You have as long as the goddess is willing to give you.”

The heavy doors close, but the room shimmers, firelight glittering over golden-accented walls. A large moon is carved into the marble floor, crossing over a sun. Before her is the largest, most intricately carved statue of Blake she’s ever seen, and it looks exactly like her.

Yang kneels.

“You know,” Blake says from behind her, “you don’t have to do that anymore.”

“No,” Yang says. “But it - it’s been a long journey. And I’m only here because of you.”

  Blake’s footsteps echo, her boots stopping at the north point of the sun. “How do you feel?”

It’s enough to make Yang smile. “I know you heard me,” she says pointedly, but her amusement is apparent. “You hear everything I say.”

“I thought I’d give you the chance to tell me yourself.”

For the last time, Yang rises to her feet. Blake’s eyes glitter, mischievous and playful. She looks as she always has, but clearer, somehow; defined and resolute. She carries the truth in the way she extends a hand, in the way she searches for Yang’s mouth. When they kiss, Yang swears she can see another world.

“I’ll tell you something better,” Yang says. “The truth.”

She leans down, bumps their foreheads together. Blake’s arms loop around her neck automatically. Oh, Yang thinks, if I were the god of anything, I’d want it to be habits.

“So what’s the truth?” Blake asks.

“The truth,” Yang says unshakably, “is that it was you. I woke up with no memory and a note, and somehow, I knew I had to find you. The only thing I’ve been searching for is you.”

It’s you, she says. It’s you. You. You.

--

“God,” Blake says, and this time God is ready for her.

“Blake Belladonna,” God says, and inclines their head. “Come. Show me what you have.”

In her hands is a small slip of paper, worn and ripped around the edges. “It is a note,” she says, and unfolds it gingerly. “It is a note, God, in my handwriting.”

“And what does it say?” they ask.

“Find me,” Blake recites, “and I promise I’ll bring you home.”

“Well,” God says whimsically, “you are the Goddess of Promises.”

--

Tears build in the corners of her eyes, shipwrecks gaining water. “Yang,” Blake whispers, and now that she is close, she can see everything. Meteors falling from their showers; the day the sun went out. “Yang. I’m sorry. I’m so, so--”

“Shh,” Yang murmurs, pressing her lips into Blake’s hair. “What are you apologizing for? I found you, and you brought me home.”

--

“Oh, this is exciting,” God says. “I so rarely get to come to Remnant on business.”

“God,” Yang says, and bows her head. The temple doors remain locked; Blake’s hand is clutched tightly in her own. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you, Yang Xiao Long,” says God. “You fell in the last war, over five-hundred years ago. Do you remember this?”

“Yes,” she says. “I was trying to protect my sister.”

“And what happens when a god falls?”

“We forget them,” Blake says. “Their power is forfeit; they are erased from our memories, and our world.”

“It is not a law of justice, but a law of reality,” God says. “Or it was, previously. Only you did not forget immediately, Blake Belladonna. I did not know it was possible for two souls to be so intrinsically bound that they leave traces in the other, but you did not forget, just long enough to leave her a message. It took five hundred years for Yang to fall to earth, and when she awoke, she did not forget, either.

“Gods are made, and this means that what we are gods of can change,” they continue. “Blake, you were not previously the Goddess of Death. You became it because you believed that Yang had died, and no god had as strong a connection to loss as you. Your power became a beacon, just as it now will be a beacon for Remembrance.

“And you, Yang Xiao Long,” God says. “Goddess of the Sun, of Loyalty, of Sacrifice. You were many things. And now you are the Goddess of Rebirth.”

[darksaiyangoku]

Devils of Remnant Chapter 1- Rebellion

Rain fell heavily around the ruins of what was left of Beacon. Facing each other were two girls, one with a black jacket and red hoodie, the other with a blue jacket and white dress. Blue eyes met silver and both gripped their weapons tight.

Weiss: So it's come to this.

Ruby: I guess so.

Thunder cracked the air.

Ruby: *draws her sword* It's over, Weiss. I will stop you... even if that means I have to kill you.

Weiss: *scoffs* If you really have the intent to kill me, you would've done it by now. *draws katana* Face it, Ruby, I'm always going to be one step ahead of you.

With great speed, the two charged at each other. This was it. Their final clash.

—2 Years Ago, Redgrave City—

The Black Bear Club of Redgrave City was notorious for being host to many of Vale's lowest of the low. Gangsters, drug dealers and, if rumours were to be believed, demons. Sitting at the bar was Ruby Rose, tapping her fingers to the beat of Red Like Roses. Hei Xiong, known as “Junior” to his friends, was on bartender duty tonight. Ruby smiled as soon as her drink was served.

Junior: It's on the house, Rubes. *two-finger salute*

Ruby: Thanks, Junior. *drinks lemonade*

???: Is that lemonade on the rocks or neat?

Ruby turned her head to find a boy sitting next her. He had golden blonde hair and deep blue eyes. He wore casual clothing; a yellow hoodie with a black shirt underneath, blue jeans and white shoes.

Ruby: *deadpans* Very funny.

???: Okay, that was mean. Sorry. *chuckles*

Ruby: It’s okay. *chuckles back*

???: I’m Jaune. Jaune Arc. Short, sweet and rolls of the tongue.

Ruby: *smiles* I’m Ruby. Ruby Rose.

Jaune: *smiles back* That's a pretty nice name.

Ruby: *blushes* Um... well...

Jaune: *blinks* What? Did I say something wrong?

Ruby: N-No! No, it's just that... hehe, no one's really said that about my name before is all.

Jaune: Well I guess there's a first time for everything. *smiles*

Ruby: *giggles*

Jaune: So, Ruby, what’s a girl like you doing in a dingy place like this?

Junior: Hey!

Ruby: Long story short, I really needed to get out of the house. My sister and brother have been working me stiff all year. *groans*

Jaune: *low whistle* I guess training with Devil Hunters isn't as easy as everyone says.

The way Jaune said 'Devil Hunters' caused Ruby to nearly jump out of her seat.

Ruby: D-Devil Hunter? Whaaat? No. *nervous laughter* W-What makes you think I'm a Devil Hunter?

Jaune: Oh come on, I can tell by the type of guns you're carrying.

Ruby stared blankly. On her hips were two M1911 handguns, one black and one red. Her foot shook on the stool as she tried to think of a way to divert him.

Ruby: Well... lots of people carry guns here. That's not enough to prove that I'm a Devil Hunter.

Jaune: *nods* That's a good point. However, the same can't be said about the sword hanging from your waist.

Ruby: ...damn it.

Jaune: *snorting laughter* You know, if you're trying to hide that you're a Hunter, you're doing a very good job.

Ruby: *pouts* Hmph!!!

Just then, Ruby and Jaune’s chat was cut short by a group of four guys. One had long, blue hair and wore a grey suit, the other wore a green vest with a light green mohawk, the third wore a brown t-shirt and had brown hair and finally there was the burly lad, with ginger hair and wearing a grey shirt that the logo of a golden cardinal bird. Their names were Russel Thrush, Sky Lark, Dove Bronzewing and their leader, Cardin Winchester.

Cardin: Why hello there, hot stuff. *winks at Ruby*

Ruby: Um... can I help you?

Cardin: How about you and I head over to the dance floor?

Ruby: *ponders* Hmmm... a tempting offer but I think I’ll stick with Jaune over here.

Jaune: *waves* Hello.

Cardin: *sneers* Really? This guy? Come on, he’s a total dork. You need a real man, like me.

Ruby: I happen to like dorks, thank you very much.

Cardin: Ugh, quit playing hard to get! *grabs Ruby’s wrist*

Ruby: Agh! Let me go!

Jaune: Hey, get off of her!

Sky: *pushes Jaune*

Jaune: Agh!

Russel: What the boss says, goes. *kicks Jaune*

Jaune: *coughs in pain*

Ruby: Leave him alone!

Cardin: Oh we will, as soon as you give me my dance.

Ruby: *grunts* If you don’t let me go, you’re gonna be sorry!

Cardin: *grips tighter*

Ruby: *smirks* Okay… you asked for it.

Using her free hand, she reached to her hip and pulled out one of her handguns. Before Cardin could react, Ruby shot him in the shoulder. Black blood leaked from the wound. The blood of demons. The sound of gunfire caused the people at the club to panic and they scrambled towards the exit. Cardin’s eyes turned red and his teeth became fangs.

Ruby: If you’re gonna disguise yourself as a human, you gotta be a little more convincing than that.

Cardin: *snarls* You bitch! I’ll you apart!!!

Surrounded by black smoke, Cardin transformed into his true self; a lanky wolf-like demon with black fur, white fangs and a skull-like mask. His entourage followed suit, transforming into demons too. Baring their sharp claws, they lunged towards Ruby. However, she was far too quick and zipped away just in time. From the back of her waist, she pulled out her sword. It was a beautiful silver blade with skull crossguard.

Ruby: Time for some Rebellion!

Ruby charged forward and sliced Sky and Dove's arms clean off. They roared in pain. Russel, meanwhile, tried to attack from behind, only to have Rebellion pierce his chest. Reaching for her other gun, Ruby pointed them at Sky and Dove.

Ruby: Say cheese!

With two shots, they fell to the floor like ragdolls and crumbled to ash. Cardin looked in shock as his friends were slaughtered. Ruby aimed her guns at him and gave him a deadly smile before delivering the final shot to his head. Jaune stared at her, baffled and impressed at what happened.

Ruby: *scratches her head* Maybe I went a little overboard.

Jaune: Are you kidding? That was incredible!! I-I've heard about the work of Hunters but to actually see it? Wow!!!

Ruby: *blushes* Stop, it was nothing. *scroll beeps* Aw no! I’m late. S-Sorry Jaune, I gotta get going. I'll see you around.

Jaune: Actually, you won't. I'm only visiting Vale.

Ruby: *frowns* O-Oh.

Jaune: B-But if you want, I can give you my number.

Ruby: Oh yeah! Sure!

After exchanging numbers, both of them parted ways with big smiles on their faces. Meanwhile, watching from the sides, was a blonde girl, Yang Xiao Long. From her pocket, she pulled out a picture of a white, armoured figure carrying a blood red sword. She stared at it and gave a small smile.

Yang: Ruby.

* * *

Ruby ran through the streets until the reached Schnee Manor, her home. Standing in front of the door was her older sister, Weiss and she didn’t look happy.

Weiss: Where have you been?

Ruby: U-Um, nowhere? *innocent smile*

Weiss: Don’t try to act like the cute sister to fool me, I know you were out.

Ruby: W-Well so what if I was? There’s nothing wrong with having a bit of fun!

Weiss: Did you forget that you're training to be a Hunter? Beacon Academy isn’t your standard school, you’re fighting demons to protect the world! Start taking this seriously!

Ruby: I do take this seriously, Weiss. I've been taking it seriously for years!

Weiss: You’re certainly not acting like it. Your reckless actions are going to come back and bite you in the ass one day.

Ruby: *sigh* Fine. I’m going to bed. *walks inside*.

From the side was the family butler, Klein.

Klein: Weiss, don't you think you're being a bit too hard on her? She's only 16 after all.

Weiss: True, but she shouldn't be wasting her time on meaningless things like going out. She has great potential. Winter saw that the day we found her and we are this close to bringing it out.

Klein: I understand, but one day off can't hurt surely? You've witnessed her talents and she's maintained it consistently.

Weiss: *sighs* I suppose. I guess I'll talk to her tomorrow. Good night, Klein.

Klein: Goodnight, Weiss.

* * *

The next day, Ruby was woken up by the loud racket of the front door. Stumbling downstairs, she opened the door, only to find no one there. On the porch was a letter wrapped in an silver envelope with her name written on it. Confused, she opened it and read the contents. Her eyes grew wide and she let out a loud scream of joy, waking up her brother, Whitley.

Whitley: Jeez, do you have to be so loud in the...

Ruby: *beaming*

Whitley: ...morning? Why are you smiling like that?

Ruby: I'm going to Beacon!!!!!

[kitkatopinions]

Can I have uhhhhhhhhhhhhh lil whitley for the ask game :D

My boy Whitley! I love him so much. Okay, let's go.

What are my top four favorite non-romantic relationship dynamics for them?

Weiss - Okay, but I sincerely love the potential in their relationship. They're very different people, but have a lot of similarities too, and their interactions could be so great and interesting. I know season eight threw this sibling relationship off, but I'm still hoping that they get more screen time and we can see them progress in more natural ways when Weiss returns to the real world. Ruby - These two being friends would be super good! They have quite a few similarities just in how they act, and I think Whitley would understand some of the pressure on Ruby and her tendency to hide behind a bright, happy persona, even though he absolutely would be weirded out and frustrated by her reckless tendencies and uncouth behavior. XD Ironwood - James could've been the father figure that Whitley deserved. Just imagine an AU where for whatever reason, Whitley having to temporarily move into James's house, and James isn't used to having a kid around and does things like try to cook for Whitley or talk to him about school, and Whitley is wary and suspicious at first, but then starts coming around and relying on James more and wanting to be like him. Also, the Ace Ops would love Whitley and work with him on his training. The next one is such a toss up between Qrow and Winter - Winter is the cold, problematic, somewhat toxic elder sister who doesn't get Whitley, but in my headcanoned version of things, she would start trying harder and wanting to be there for and protect Whitley after he goes through danger. And they would argue and fight all the time, but also love each other underneath it all. As for Qrow, he'd be a 'bad influence,' telling Whitley he doesn't always have to be perfect, and Whitley would get starry eyed over him and start following after him and emulating him, but Qrow would also be kind of absent and careless (not on purpose, he just has a lot going on.) The reason why I really can't pick between these two is because even though I can see Qrow and Ironwood accidentally co-parenting Whitley in like a wholesome and stable way... I can imagine Winter and Qrow legit acting like divorced parents who argue all the time about what Whitley needs or which one of them is 'messing him up' the most, but then unite to lecture Whitley for doing something really reckless.

Winter: "He gets that from you! You teach him to do things like that!" Qrow: "One of us had to teach the kid to fight and you sure weren't doing it, Winnie." Winter: "I was going to before you gave him that garden tool to fight with as if it isn't one of the most dangerous weapons you can use!" Qrow: "I didn't give him that, he wanted to fight with a scythe! I mean, he coulda used dual sabers, but he probably didn't want to look like an idiot." Whitley:

What season were they at their best and why?

Season eight. Boy was one of the MVPs of that season. The only problem I have with the writing towards Whitley for this season is the way they had Willow freaking attached to his shoulder every time we saw them, as if Willow wasn't a neglectful and highly problematic parent and now is just super mom. But other than that? He was interesting, fun, layered, his interactions were good, his character has remained consistent, they did good with him, they gave him a pretty appropriate amount of screen time (the problem is that Ruby needed more screen time, not that Whitley specifically needed less.) Over all... Two thumbs up from me.

What season were they at their worst and why?

I want to say season seven? Not that I didn't like him in season seven, but he got very little in that season and the wine prank thing was literally just annoying and kind of angering. So... Yeah.

How would I rank their outfits from worst to best?

Whitley only has one outfit, so I'll rank it from one to ten and, I'd say it gets a 5/10. It's nice enough, simple, dressy, but nothing special, and at this point, it's gotten old. I want to see Whitley in tall boots with a white vest, a fancy blue tank top under that, and a white short cape.

Which Hogwarts House would I sort them into (optional; what would their wand be?)

Whitley would be a Slytherin, he's got all the ambition, he's sly and resourceful and occasionally ruthless, and he'd wind up being a Slytherin prefect. Also, he'd get roped into playing chaser for his quidditch team during his later years. I'd say vine and unicorn hair for a wand, 13 ¾ wand, springy.

What do I think this character would be like if they were on the opposite side (good characters are bad, bad characters are good)

Whitley is an odd one because he's more minor antagonist turned minor helper figure. So changing him, I'd make it so that he actually starts out mostly the same, but instead of wanting Weiss to lose her inheritance, he actually isn't happy about it and tries to fix it and tries to comfort Weiss. But then after he's left alone when Weiss runs away from home, Whitley starts getting more bitter and angry. The wine prank scene stays the same and Whitley's reaction to Jacques' arrest stays the same, but then when Weiss and the others come to use the mansion as a hiding place in volume eight, Whitley sells them out to the Atlas military to try and get them out of his home.

If I suddenly had control of RWBY, what would I want to do with this character after the events of V8?

I would make him more involved in things, using his technological prowess and other skills when needed and starting to try and learn to fight, being kind of a 'guy in the chair' character who Team RWBY and the others can call about situations outside of their skillset. And I would have the relationship between the Schnees being rocky, with Whitley wanting nothing to do with Willow and giving Winter nothing but a cold shoulder and quips, but being more willing to work with and get along with Weiss despite the fact that they still fight, and he's receptive to Ruby. While Weiss is also having problems with Winter and Willow but just wants them all to get along. And none of them are doing well with poverty or having to get by on charity, but finally starting to humble some. And I would have Whitley involved in Mercury's redemption arc in some way, because it'd be great. I don't know, I have too many ideas for Whitley. XD

[itsclydebitches]

(Not "Tai's Joke Anon" but on that topic) I agree with you on pretty much everything: Yang being very obviously a victim in her situation and not responsible for what Adam did doesn't mean Yang is no longer reckless. Ruby growing increasingly irresponsibly reckless in V6-onward doesn't mean Yang is no longer reckless. Ruby and Blake having made strategical blunders doesn't mean Yang is no longer reckless. Weiss's "accidental magic" emotional semblance use doesn't mean Yang is no longer reckless. It feels silly to act like Yang can't have flaws just because she was a victim and others also have flaws. I think you're right about all this.

That said, I do have to agree with the other anon that I think Tai's 'joke' was horrific. I was shocked and angry when I first heard it, and not even writing Yang to laugh made me feel any better about it. I recognize that humor is a valid way for people to cope, but imo, it should be up to the victim to decide when joking is appropriate (like in Yang and Nora's arm-wrestling match) and not the able-bodied person currently yelling at her about not being ready for the world. Plus, even if it was okay for him to joke about her situation, the joke itself seemed heartless. He not only is using humor to speak over her and tell her what she is and isn't capable of, but he throws in a jab at her intelligence, too.

I like Tai. I really do. He's probably my favorite RWBY parent. And I liked Yang's recovery arc, outside of that line. And I have a lot of respect for you (and this hasn't made me lose any or anything, jsyk) and I agree with basically everything else you've said. But I'm sorry, I think that joke was crossing a line, and while I agree that it isn't entirely fair to judge 4-5 by 6-8 standards, I do think that the recent pattern of blatant, admitted ableism in the Penny and Ironwood arcs, with the added bonus line of Yang telling the audience that humanity stops at flesh and everything else is 'just extra,' makes the joke seem even less like an unfortunate blunder on RT's part, and more like the first sign in what would eventually develop into a long history of ableist writing that, at this point, can no longer be denied.

Aww thanks, anon! 💜 Yeah, as said, it’s a very contentious choice and it looks less and less like a positive the more RWBY goes on. Back in Volume 4 it was a (mostly) isolated moment that some fans enjoyed and others absolutely did not. However, four years later, it’s now a part of a pattern. For some that moment, if it was ever okay, will retroactively be made worse by what comes later (particularly Yang’s “extra” line). For some, if it was ever okay, it will be an example of when RWBY was writing disability better, further proof of how far the show has fallen. For some, if it was never okay, Volumes 5-8 just made it a thousand times worse. Congratulations, RWBY. You took what we thought was a one-off misstep and turned it into a whole philosophy. Nice work!

For me, I’m.. all the camps at once? lol. I enjoy nuance in media and that moment, for me, does have nuance. In that yes, we’re supposed to believe it has crossed a line. There’s a reason why the scene gives us shocked expressions. Not just Yang’s but Port and Oobleck’s too. Omg, how could you say that? 

And then we get our answer. The answer is not, as we assume in this moment, that Tai is a horrible person who insults his daughter without cause, but rather because Tai knows his daughter. He’s making a point here. Yang is arguing that she’s an adult now, ready for the real world, and Tai is arguing that this doesn’t mean she’s ready to run off on her own. If she honestly believes that, she’s lost those braincells along with the arm. He isn’t telling her she isn’t capable, he’s telling her (as my previous posts have argued) that she’s thinking recklessly right now. The implication is that of course she’s smarter than that. Smart is what he expects of her. So stop for a moment and consider whether what you’re saying is, in fact, smart. And provides that reminder in a way that normalizes her arm. After this will be the first time Yang has really talked about it, after it became something to joke about, not just tiptoe around. 

Things have been escalating, they��re yelling, Tai makes his point via an insult... and with a smile to lessen the sting.  

And then Yang smiles too. 

(Though I also think there’s a case to be made that neither really meant their “argument.” It feels very posturing to me, the chance to just go at each other for the fun of it, not because they actually feel that strongly about either position. It’s a form of play between them.) 

I agree wholeheartedly that the victim should be in control of the humor and that’s perhaps my biggest criticism here. The scene is meant to show how well Tai knows his daughter, he’s so sure this will cut the tension... but what if he’s wrong? This could have indeed backfired spectacularly and then yeah, Tai would need to apologize for that and not repeat such behavior in the future. In a perfect world no one would ever make that kind of misstep, but people (and characters) aren’t perfect. I like that Tai is shown to take a risk with humor. That he’s not some generic Good Father Figure who only approaches trauma with the Certified Approved Approaches. This risk makes him feel human and, notably, it paid off. He chose his intimate knowledge of Yang’s personality over the generalized advice, “Treat someone with that trauma with the upmost respect and care.” That works for me personally  — emphasis on personally  — because I’m like Yang. I have friends and family who say things that sound so unimaginably insulting to outsiders about the most sensitive subjects in my life... but that’s because they know me and know I’m cool with it. That, in a weird and human way, it helps me to process the horrible things going on. Tai knows Yang and knows she’d be cool with it too. And she is! Not to attribute agency to fictional character written by, as we’ve seen, authors with a very iffy handle on disability, but I think it’s important to let Yang speak for herself. The scene is written to show that she enjoys this, that it’s what she needs, and it’s always felt weird to me to go, “No, it’s horrible and never should have happened” when clearly Yang draws a benefit and gives it her stamp of approval. The nuance is that sometimes people cope in ways that don’t work for others, are insulting to others, may even seem harmful to others... but if it works for Yang, as a disabled woman, who are we to say, “No, you’re doing disability wrong”?  

But of course, that’s all in that context of our incredibly flawed writers who, as far as I know, are not disabled themselves. So I 1000% understand why others are not at all comfortable with this scene. And certainly no one needs to be. I do want to be clear, in such a meta-filled blog, that my own love of analyzing this show is by no means meant as a, “This is the right interpretation.” I don’t think the “right” interpretation exists, let alone for a moment as charged as this one, trying to represent huge swaths of people at once. I think a scene can cross a line and be a powerful choice simultaneously, depending on who is watching it and what that person needs. Like the question of whether Ruby is endangering people or heroically saving them, whether Ironwood had a phenomenal downfall or was slammed into OOC territory, whether RWBY’s “rule of cool” creates an inconsistent mess or a fun and thrilling adventure not burdened by what it put down before... so much of how we experience media is a result of not the media itself, but us. Our experiences, our normality, our needs, whether we’re choosing to read a scene on its own or in the context of a whole series. Since no two people are the same and, even if they were, they might be coming at this with different intentions, a single scene can read radically differently to them both. 

That and my own enjoyment of the moment aside though, yeeeeeeah, the more RWBY messes up its disability rep the more it reflects badly on... well, everything. At this point, the blatant problems are a blight on the current volumes, the past volumes, the previously good rep, previously bad rep, previously debatable rep, and everything in between. 

[kob131]

*Sigh* Vexed released a new “stupid for the plot” video. Feel like taking a sword of destruction to it and it’s arguments, or do you want to sit this one out like me? Man, I’m gonna enjoy watching him fade into irrelevance once RWBY’s over.

Sure, why not? I’m feeling sadistic.

“Sometimes it’s character development, sometimes it’s aspects of the world they established, most of the time-”

It’s you not paying attention throughout the entire video process at best Vexed? I do mean ‘at best’ because my personal theory is that you do notice but you know your audience will buy any idea that seemingly damages RWBY as a show even if it’s not true so you feed them misinformation for your own ego. 

Granted, this makes you better than say...Hero Hei who does it to parasitically drain his audience of goodwill to profit off of them but ‘not being an opportunistic fuck’ should NOT be the bar you stumble over then break your nose on the fall.

“-it’s the character’s logic and reasoning.”

Oh. ... so exactly what I said. Since you never take into account character’s worldview, the themes of the show, the character’s purpose or access to information.

“Stupid for the sake of the plot is a gamble and a trap that many writers slid own-”

Note: Every single thing Vexed is about to say and I’m about to quote EXACTLY word for word applies to him.

“-because the writers are betting that the audience won’t notice, care or think as they shove the protagonist down the halls that is the story.”

Ah huh.

Remember when Vexed Viewer tried to say that Yang didn’t think of Summer as her mom despite Yang’s angst about Raven being in part because she thought she was biologically related to Summer and that many adoptive kids feel a need to connect with their biological family? How he had to force in this idea by ignoring a basic concept in how a person would think and deify both Summer and Taiyang?

Or when he tried to say Weiss was being a bitch when she thanked Whitely for helping Nora because of a bunch of reasons that get answered based on context and how people think?

Or his other three ‘Stupid For the sake of the plot’ videos that included an argument RT made fun of YEARS before that video?

How many times has Vexed needed to chop off parts of canon and logical thinking in order to whack off his hateboner? He is NOT one to talk here.

Five bucks says he tries to say ‘Cinder’s wearing a hood but the heroes should have checked everyone with a hood!’ or something similar.

“They risk losing the viewer’s investment, time and money”

And yet you still exist. You clearly understand pandering exists.

“What happens when four people enter a door at the same time?”

They all exit the much bigger exit door.

Apparently Vexed thinks this door cannot allow four people to exit.

Thing about plot induced stupidity- It doesn’t work if you decide to be a pedantic fuck. It is not a good idea for media to go through ever single tiny minute detail because it’s suppose to be concise. You cannot claim stupidity because the show is acting like a fucking show.

“They just had to make an exit door for every portal in Atlas!”

Or you know....have a giant one so you can keep track of everyone.

Another thing about this- I too can be pedantic fuck.

“Why didn’t anyone think of that?”

Because it would mean people would be separated and harder to keep track off, making them easy pickings for stray Grimm?

Oh sorry, I forgot to turn my brain off for this critical video. My mistake.

“Now I know what some of you are saying-”

‘Your idea is completely stupid and is worse than the original?’

“-’Okay Vexed, that wasn’t the best solution but the central location solution wasn’t dumb!’ But it kind of was. Because Cinder.”

You know...not like Cinder doesn’t kill indiscriminately and in fact would target either Penny or Ruby, where splitting them up would give Cinder a numbers advantage.

Oh sorry, I was paying attention. I should actually be huffing paint thinner while stabbing my brain like you do.

“No one pointed out that if Cinder popped off in their center location-”

You mean they didn’t consider that Cinder would know what they were doing after the location that she should have been in (the whale Grimm) BLEW THE FUCK UP and she hasn’t shown up since despite her known power lust and recklessness while needing to deal with the more immediate threat? Gee, it almost sounds like they’re...*gasp* HUMAN!

Hey uh, fun fact. Vexed is a fan of Avatar The Last Airbender. Remember that scene where Aang goes into the Avatar state, this extremely vulnerable state...with Azula to his back? We COULD say Aang is human and in the heat of the moment didn’t consider it...but according to Vexed, that doesn’t exist so Aaang was stupid for the sake of the plot. Wonder when he’ll talk about that. Not like he’s ignoring basic humanity to create stupid flaws to throw a temper tantrum.

“Emerald KNOWS Cinder is after Penny and the Relic-”

And has no idea where Cinder is, what she is doing or if she’s even ALIVE. But I guess  magical plot knowledge is okay right? 

“Emerald is their acein the whole and it’s really hard to lose with her and yet they sent her ahead. STUUPED!”

Yes, because not like Ironwood didn’t know what Emerald could do...or that Ironwood didn’t have a personal connection to her to cause her distractions...or that there weren’t innocent people around who could use her abilities more than the trained fighters....al ignoring what I’ve said before.

Nope, these canonical facts don’t exist because stupid for profit.

“They no send Jaune even though he can boost Ren Ssemblance! STUPED!”

Jaune is propelled out of the portal and onto his face in the pocket dimension. He stifles the urge to vomit as the rest of the group follows after him.

Jaune: Okay, we can do this. Nora and I will get people through the gates. Everyone else, keep to your roles. Remember, the evacuation is priority one no matter what else happens.

Ren: You're sure you won't need more help?

Nora: Shade is armed to the teeth with Huntsmen and Huntresses, but we're about to throw a whole kingdom's worth of negativity on their doorstep. If anyone will need help, it's them.

Damn that pesky canon! Proving you wrong even though it’s in the same episode you were quoting and you should know better!

We’ll stop here because, half way through a 9 and a half minute video- VI’ve already managed to make a long ass post.

As always, Vexed’s ‘stupidity’ is his own but he blames everyone else for it.

[bridgyrose]

Raven: *answering her scroll* Ruby?

Ruby: Hey mother.

Raven: How was initiation?

Ruby: It went well. I… ended up as leader of my team.

Raven: You seem to be following in your mom’s footsteps, arent you?

Ruby: Guess so. I dont really deserve to be a leader though.

Weiss: *from the background* Damn right you dont!

Raven: I promise, you really do. Ozpin doesnt just choose the leader to just to choose. You have to impress him.

Ruby: *casually* Well, we did fight off a nevermore.

Raven: A nevermore?

Ruby: Oh! I still have the video.

Raven: Send it over.

Ruby: And… sent.

Raven: *opening up the video* Cant wait to watch my baby girl in action.

Ruby: My other friends took on a deathstalker. It was fun to watch them.

Raven: *hesitating as she watched Ruby get flung onto the nevermore’s back*

Ruby: My team is pretty cool though. Weiss is a master with glyphs and Blake seems to be like a ninja. And well, we already knew Yang would be great.

Raven: *still watching the video, eye twitching as she watched Ruby being reckless*

Ruby: Beacon is going to be great!

Raven: Ruby Luna Rose! Did you really think it was-

Ruby: I’ll talk to you later then. Bye mom, I love you! *hangs up*

Raven: *sighing* That girl…

Summer: Reckless?

Raven: Yeah…

Summer: *smirking* Told you so.

Raven: She was supposed to be the responsible one…

Summer: Now you understand my concern?

Raven: *sighing* We’re going to be on friendly terms with Oz, arent we?

Summer: Yes, yes we are.

[ezmodo]

Being Smart

Welp, Ruby thought idly as the morning sun filtered in through the blinds, so much for being smart.

---

Ruby had planned on being smart at first. They had been buddies since their first day at Beacon and now, nearly two years and three continents later, they were closer than ever. She knew she loved him, but did she love love him? Did he feel the same? Could she risk it? Besides, the world was practically ending. She was a huntress with a mission to accomplish. Monsters to slay, people to save. She had a responsibility, both to her team and the world, to stay focused on the mission and lead them through safely.

So she wouldn’t do anything. There was enough on both of their plates and things didn’t need to get complicated by something dumb like romance. Ruby figured she’d put her feelings on the backburner for now and focus on the fight ahead of them. Once Salem was defeated she’d put it all out there and see how he felt. Until then, she’d keep those feelings to herself.

Atlas had been rough going for Team RWBY. With General Ironwood effectively confining them to Atlas and Mantle down below, they had no mission to distract them from just how miserable the city could be. Weiss and Blake had the worst of it, and Ruby and Yang found themselves coming up short on how to help. Weiss insisted on facing her family issues alone, trying to shield her team from her snake of a father. Blake wanted to do her part to help the Faunus of Mantle in any way she could but found herself rebuffed at every angle, both by humans and the Faunus she wanted to help. 

Ruby felt overwhelmed. Six month hike through Grimm infested woods? Sounds fun. Crazed scorpion assassin? Bring it on. Unkillable Grimm Queen bent on burning the kingdoms to the ground? She was locked and loaded and in it for the long haul. 

But Blake standing in front of the mirror with a ribbon in hand, contemplating hiding her ears again? Weiss excusing herself at random times whenever her father called, only to show up later so withdrawn and deflated that it broke Ruby’s heart? It felt like their team was sinking and Ruby and Yang weren’t enough to keep the team afloat.

But through it all, Jaune was there. With a smile, a hand on her shoulder, and, in one instance, a snowball, he and Team JNPR were there to help shoulder the burden. Particularly rough days would end with JNPR forcing their way into RWBY’s room for board game night or to drag them out to the common room to watch movies. Jaune wielded Nora like a blunt instrument, blowing past Weiss’ snippy refusals and Blake’s moody deflections. He would even sic Nora on them, ordering her to throw the sulky girls over her shoulder to carry them along when they weren’t being cooperative. 

All aboard the Nora train, full speed ahead. No stops, no excuses, no surrender!

It saved them. With JNPR’s help, Ruby and Yang started making progress with their partners. Things were still pretty miserable but Weiss was opening up about her family and Blake leaned on them more. JNPR had brought that sense of normalcy back to their lives that had been missing since Beacon. Back when they would argue about their weekend plans at lunch, when they would complain about homework between class periods. Back when they didn’t know the world was ending.

But for Ruby, it wasn’t quite the same. Sitting with Jaune in class never used to bring butterflies to her stomach. Being squeezed in next to him on the couch never used to make her skin tingle. His smile never used to bring heat to her face, his dopey grin after a good spar never made her heart race like this, and her eyes never used to linger on him quite so long. Thankfully Jaune, dense as he was, never seemed to notice. Weiss, however, had caught her more than once. Stop being a dolt, her partner told her each time, usually with a huff and a quick turn of the head that caused Weiss’ flail of a braid to smack her dismissively. Weiss must have agreed that Ruby needed to get her priorities straight.

She was trying her hardest not to be a dolt. Really! Jaune just made that really, really hard sometimes. 

Most times.

After a while she had found a solution that worked for her. Most days would end with Ruby retiring to her room where she would scream her happy frustration into her pillow as she rapidly kicked her legs into the bed. She got confused stares from Yang and Blake but a knowing ‘dolt’ from Weiss. Is this what Pyrrha had went through on a daily basis? Ruby was desperate for something, anything to distract her from this mess she had found herself in.

At least until Mantle was attacked and they nearly lost each other. Ruby’s stint in the hospital lasted just over a week, the wounds she took just barely stabilized by Jaune’s semblance during the battle. The tongue-lashing she received from her team still stung – how she should take better care of herself, how she shouldn’t be so reckless, how she couldn’t just throw herself into danger because they had a healer in their group, and on and on and on. She felt guilty, of course, but she knew that if she were put in the same situation she wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.

Jaune’s stay in the hospital lasted nearly a month. Acute aura exhaustion, the doctors called it; he had used up the last bits of his aura healing her. He spent a week hooked up to all sorts of machines and another two weeks asleep in bed. Their friends all rotated through to make sure he wasn’t alone when he woke up. Ruby started to think that maybe her own team was there to keep her company more than anything – between the attached bathroom and the deluxe sleeping bag Weiss provided, Ruby never really saw the need to leave.

She woke one night to a hand gently stroking her hair. It felt so nice that she leaned into it, still half asleep, but when she finally cracked an eye open she saw him. Jaune was leaning over the side of the bed, cords and tubes stretched to their limit, as he looked down at her with an expression she didn’t know how to read. But when Ruby’s stomach fluttered she knew what she hoped that look meant. Ruby sprung to her feet as she fought the zipper to the sleeping bag she was still cocooned in. Jaune just looked at her, rooted to the spot in embarrassment after being caught.

With the sleeping bag still tangled about her legs, Ruby hopped clumsily towards the head of the bed and lunged at him, half lying across the mattress as she buried her face in his chest. She stayed that way for a few minutes, his hospital gown bunched in her fists as she willed her heart not to explode. With a thousand things she wanted to tell him bouncing around in her head, she lifted her hands to his shoulders and pulled herself up to look him in the eye for the first time in too long.

Lit by the faint light of the equipment around him, unshed tears shimmered in the corners of his eyes. You’re okay was all he whispered, relief obvious as he sagged back against the headboard under her weight. Ruby was sick of seeing him cry, no matter the reason.

Without thinking, she did a really dumb thing.

It was a pretty poor attempt as far as first kisses went, Ruby thought. She practically headbutted him on her way up and made their teeth clack together painfully when she mashed her lips into his face. She went too high, only catching his upper lip and causing their noses to mash together uncomfortably. Worst of all, she didn’t ask. She didn’t even know how he felt, she just dove in head first without thinking like she always did. Stupid. Dolt. She was frozen against him, lips still smashed into his, as a voice screamed in her head that she just did the dumbest thing imaginable.

Until he kissed her back.

---

They might have been on their way to being really, really dumb that night. They were saved from their stupidity when the team of night nurses came barreling into the room – apparently Ruby ripping cords and disconnecting sensors that were in her way was a surefire method to make the staff think their patient had either suddenly dropped dead or was making his escape. They had been caught as Jaune was trying to help her untangle the sleeping bag from around her feet, struggling because they refused to separate for air.

They kicked her out, naturally.

The laughter and raunchy jokes of the nurses followed her as she made her way back to the dorm that night. Despite the cold, she was burning up. She’d never been so embarrassed in her life. Was this the walk of shame Yang had told her about?

Scratch that. Returning to the hospital the following day was way worse. This had to be the real walk of shame. The night nurses must have been talking – Ruby could feel the eyes of the day shift workers follow her as she and her friends made their way to Jaune’s room. She pulled her hood up to hide as she shrunk under their gaze, whispers following her to Jaune’s room.

Apparently it wasn’t a secret from Nora either. The truth must have been plain on Ruby and Jaune’s faces. All it took was one quick glance between the blushing leaders and Nora’s knowing grin nearly split her face. She didn’t say anything, opting instead to crush Ruby in a bearhug and thank her for “taking care” of her leader. Ruby whimpered as Jaune turned a shade darker. Ruby had realized it back when they were still on the road to Mistral, but Nora’s intuition was downright scary sometimes.

Ruby looked helplessly to her partner and realized Nora wasn’t the only one who figured it out. Weiss’s smile was small but pleased as she gave Ruby a single proud nod. Maybe Weiss was calling her a dolt for a different reason all along.

Ruby and Jaune finally had a chance to talk the day he got out of the hospital. He told her that he’d been struggling with the same problem she had. To her dismay, he agreed that they had to be smart about this. The stakes were too high and they had too many people they cared about to let them down by getting distracted with a relationship. Just knowing how the other felt would have to be enough for now.

They could still be smart. They had a momentary lapse in judgment but they would get their act together. They were leaders. They had responsibilities. They were going to be smart!

They lasted three days.

To be fair, three days was the longest Ruby had ever held off on anything she wanted so badly. And really, it was Jaune’s fault. It was easier when their friends were around to act as unknowing chaperones but none of their friends went to leadership class with them and that’s where Jaune doomed them.

He held her hand. No prompting, no warning, he just took her hand halfway through lecture and didn’t let go until class was dismissed. She couldn’t remember a thing from that lecture and, judging by the look on his face, Jaune didn’t either.

The floodgates were open. They played footsies at lunch, leaned against one another whenever their teams watched movies (but not so much that anyone noticed) and even held hands using a pillow to hide them. It was all very dumb and childish, Ruby thought, especially compared to what they were about to do in that hospital room. She was worried she’d reenact that in a heartbeat if she were given the chance and then she’d be completely done for.

They were getting dumber by the minute but this was still salvageable. They just needed a plan. 

They didn’t realize someone else already had one ready for them.

---

Sitting in class with Jaune one day, Yang sent her a message.

going 2 mantle with blake + everyone for faunus stuff, gonna hit the town after, call when on ur way

Ruby sighed. She was never big on the night life, but maybe it’d be fun. As long as Yang didn’t make them go to a club…

Her scroll buzzed again. Nora this time.

you can have the room, we’ll be out aaaaallllll night ;)

Ruby spluttered, giving Jaune’s hand an unintentional squeeze. He looked over at her with an eyebrow raised in confusion. She shook her head silently at him and pretended to turn her attention back to class as the heat started creeping up her neck. Stupid Nora being a bad influence…

She was trying to do the smart thing here!

As they made their way back to their rooms, Ruby’s mind and heart was racing. She should just tell him about going down to Mantle and everything would be fine. They could hold hands on the way down even, that was still within reason!

Her scroll buzzed again. Weiss?

I left something on your bed.

Okay…? Maybe she wanted her to bring it along with them? A moment later, she added to it.

Don’t be a dolt.

Ruby swallowed. Jaune was already breaking away from her, saying something about checking with Ren and Nora as he went towards his team’s room.

Ruby let herself into her own room and quickly made her way to the bed where a small plastic bag was waiting for her. Steeling herself, she took a quick peek inside and immediately closed the bag tight again.

Was that a box of…? Yup. Definitely. Couldn’t be anything else. Now her heart was really hammering. Nora she could understand, but even Weiss? Weiss had to have understood the responsibility that rested on Ruby’s shoulders. She had no choice but to be the smart one here. Taking a shuddering breath, Ruby turned on her heel and left the room, bag unknowingly clutched tight in her shaking hands.

Jaune stood stock-still in the doorway of JNPR’s room, staring dumbly at something within. He didn’t respond when she quietly said his name so she squeezed past him to see what he was looking at.

The amount of candles Nora had strewn all over the dorm was downright comical.

She chuckled anxiously at the scene and looked down at the bag she had in her hands, the box inside most likely crushed by her nervous fingers.

Turning back to him, she noticed Jaune staring at her. He looked nervous too, and excited. Just like her.

Wetting her lips, she smiled up at him and took his hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze in response and smiled down at her. They were both shaking slightly with nervous anticipation and when Ruby pulled him further into the room he followed eagerly, letting the door close behind them.

---

Welp, so much for being smart.

But as she lay in a bed just a tad too small for two, Jaune’s soft snoring tickling the back of her neck, Ruby found being dumb suited her just fine.

[wintereign]

perhaps their definition of fun was different - Weiss couldn't care less about the shiny new vehicle that the blonde brawler was currently obsessing over. "Why would I want to?" she asked, watching the speedometer inch higher and higher. "Well, you haven't killed us yet, so I suppose that's something." She said a hint of sarcasm dripping with each word.

But if she were being honest, it wasn't so bad. Sure Yang was a little reckless but she wouldn't purposely harm her in anyway. "But really, Yang, why this car? What's so special about it anyway?" She didn't understand cars, she barely understood people. And she also didn't have a license. (thanks for nothing, father - his excuse was why do you need one when we have people to drive for you?)

of course it is something in Yang’s mind . which is why they were now in driving route . trying her new vehicle . a road date ! It is something she has been hyping up recently . “ come on , this is fun ! It is not like you can ride this everyday ? So how do you rate my car & driving ?! this is actually my first time “

She might have dragged the Schnee but it wasn’t just a coincidence . she meant to do it with Weiss . the other two would have been not as tolerated about it . comes to stop a hand placed on the other chair with big grin .

[razorblade180]

You mentioned before the manner of behavior characters will have in your stories (Yang acting more like Ruby when she's with Jaune). How do you go about deciding characters' personalities when writing them?

I think I’ve had the benefit of joining this fandom a little late. There was a bunch of fanfiction already created and I had plenty of time to read them before I really started writing myself. Going from story to story I started to see that a fair amount followed the same trend when it came to writing ships. (Yang disapproving of Lancaster, Jaune extremely depressed, Weiss’s serious side, Blake being calm, etc.)

That combined with the show proper only really showing characters with two or three kinds of emotions they might flip through burnt me out of seeing them like that. So I got to thinking about traits I’d love to see them express, or traits they have but never really shine through a lot.

No one can argue that Ruby would want to beat up someone who hurts her friends, but we don’t get see her fight anyone and have the aggression of a person who’s trying to beat someone up for a friend. So any time I get the chance to test one of Ruby’s bonds I like to put a little bit more bite behind everything she does because it just makes sense to me that she would be upset that something is messing with her loved ones. I’ll make her confront Yang if she is trying to hinder a relationship with Jaune. He will be chastised by her if he does something viable to get himself or his friends killed out of recklessness. A villain or a flirt will have to deal with her attitude. It’s all out of all love.

Nora is usually made to be a little ditzy or just tension relief but we know she can offer wisdom. Writing her being loving and caring isn’t hard because we know she can do it; we’re just used to someone else doing it. Yeah I keep Nora’s antics in but I also like her being the one to offer genuine comfort in emotional situations. Anytime I write Weiss being stressed out about her emotions (especially with Jaune) I usually consider Yang or Nora because both of them show instances where they can just be really comforting people.

Weiss always has something weighing on her mind in the show so having her live in the moment during something is enjoyable. Let her attempt a joke, being a little crude, wear her emotions on her sleeve, etc. Instead of her acting like “I won’t do this because I find it in proper.” I try to make it more of “I’m going to do this but I’m going to be clumsy at it because I’d never dreamed I’d do it.” Her showing public displays of affection is infectious to her. Saying “I love you” takes either a lot of effort or it’s overflowing with emotions. No matter what trait I give her I take it to some form of extreme because a reserved and poised Weiss is what she always try’s to be; not what she wants to be. (Weiss is like a P5 character to me. She’s ripping the mask off)

Yang is always seen as a firm wall of resolve, crumbling to complete pieces, a social butterfly, or angry. I just wanted to make a Yang that has moments where she’s not exactly a mess, but things still get to her and it shows. I’ve read plenty of things that always have her being the more aggressive purser in any ship, so I just make it an even playing field with Jaune. His active advances can show her being the shy one that’s caught off guard. Maybe the our tough girl wants to be the one held sometimes. A softer Yang just shows that it takes effort to be that strong wall people love.

Blake is always serious so I let her have fun. That’s honestly about it lol. Yeah her past is darker than the rest but she’s still a teen among her friends. Raven from teen titans had moments where she went along with the antics and cut loose a bit. I’d imagine Blake would be no different. My version of knightshade is literally those two being teens. Concerts, late night calls, hangout spots, dumb movie choices. Most stories I see are about trudging up the past and facing it. I’m more interested in a Blake that takes a day to finally gets to see her favorite band perform live because that’s something her past prevented.

These are just a few examples but I literally just sit back and think for a minute of ways these characters would probably act when they’re not constantly trying to be some kind of perfect version of them self. If you write an Adam that’s not thinking about Blake or vengeance then he’s automatically going to more interesting then his show counterpart in my opinion. Jaune can easily be many things because we’ve seen him express so many emotions. (Any person who writes Jaune always has a certain twist to him) I make Emerald care for others like we know she can. We know Mercury has a heart so I make him show it. Raven clearly has. a lot of conflicting emotions and looks like she loves Yang. So a vulnerable Raven with awkward social skills talking to a Yang who would love to let down her guard and be kid just works.

I don’t think what I’m doing is special, I’m just highlighting emotions the characters either try to conceal or emotions that they really should have given their circumstances.