rwbyrg

[rwbyrg]

Looking back, there's actually more symbolic foreshadowing for Whiteknight than I initially realised in the dance arc in V2. When Jaune goes to ask Weiss out, intending to follow Phyrha's advice about cutting out the bravado and just being honest about how he feels, he's holding a white flower to give to her:

But he then sees Weiss asking out Neptune instead, and realising she has someone else she's interested in, he drops the flower and leaves.

Essentially the flower represents his romantic interest in Weiss, but also a potential future of a relationship between the two based on mutual honesty and respect, (following Pyrrha's advice to just be yourself) instead of the false selves they project and initially see the other to be.

After this scene of dropping the flower he stops with his attempts to ask Weiss out altogether. Him dropping the flower is him dropping his romantic interest in Weiss, instead focusing on just being a good friend and looking out for her (convincing Neptune to go talk to Weiss because he knew it would make her happy).

But we see this flower transition into this vase, drooping and wilting at the dance:

...followed by a frustrated Weiss trying to perk the same flower up:

Which seems to foreshadow Weiss later on being the one to take a romantic interest in Jaune in V9, and also being the one to support and reassure Jaune when he's at his lowest:

Which does in turn seemingly cause that potential budding flower of their relationship to grow and bloom again, just as the two of them have been growing into their own true selves over the course of the series.

And I just think that's pretty neat.

#ship parallels #yessssss #meta #rosegarden #whiteknight #bumbleby #emercury #renora #not mine

[rwbyrg]

Thinking about the "paint our nails, try and clothes, and talk about cute boys" thing setup between Weiss and Ruby in v1 and how the strongest ship baits we've gotten for both of them are:

- Jaune: who's a teenager turned into an old man from a fairytale, then back into a teenager again

And

- Oscar: a teenager who is very quickly merging with the spirit of an immortal old man who's been the subject of many fairytales in the past

#rwby #rosegarden #whiteknight #ramblings #ship parallels

[rwbyrg]

Maybe look off campus ruby

-----

New name idea for rosegarden

Rose gold, or Hazel silver

#rosegarden #memes #YOU'RE RIGHT AND YOU SHOULD SAY IT #everyone with a love interest gets a scene with their counterpart in the beacon dance #jaune with pyrrha and weiss #renora #bb and black sun #who does ruby get? #a conversation with Ozpin. who ends up bringing Oscar into her life #/insert conspiracy meme here

[rwbyrg]

#rosegarden #fanart #comic

[rwbyrg]

Just sliding this in here real quick pretend I didn’t forget to upload it

There is a bigger version with some of our other favourites but I’m slow at doing art and wanted to atleast get this part out because I love it 💖

It’s a Texan bar dance night au thingy I have no clue basically they go to a place to dance and the theme is country clothes,

I also was listening to timber by Kesha on repeat while drawing this

#rosegarden #fanart

[rwbyrg]

So, we can all agree that when Oscar eventually gets his semblance, it's going to have something to do with Ruby, right? And I'm not even saying this from a shippy lens. Kid has an immortal wizard move into his brain at 14 that he can't kick out, immediately becomes a child soldier, lives through a train crash, countless grimm fights, crash lands a plane, gets shot in the chest, falls for - quite possibly - a few kilometres after blowing up a hole in the bottom of a military compound, gets beaten up and abducted by a goopy grimm super monster, magic blasted by his headmate's ex-wife, tortured and beaten up by a man six times his size, fights off Salem again to save his friends, and not ONE of those instances has been stressful enough to awaken it.

But both times he's talked about his semblance manifesting, it's been with Ruby. The first is in v5 after they spar and Ruby cheers him (and Jaune) on about getting there one day, while Ren makes a comment saying:

"One common philosophy is that a warrior's semblance is a part of who they are".

The second time is in v7 when Ruby does something new with her own semblance and Oscar asks if she's always been able to do that. Eventually leading to him lamenting again about how he's not unlocked his yet while everyone else's are evolving. And it's Ruby that responds with:

"Well, I'm sure we'll all be jealous when you do (figure it out)".

And then, from both Ruby and Oscar's perspectives, we are shown their attachment to each other. Ruby throughout V9 with Neo's illusions, and Oscar with - many instances - but especially in the recently released epilogue where he speaks at her grave. And in this speech we're reminded of that attachment as well as his struggles with identity. Specifically how those two things are intrinsically linked together:

"You always believed in the best. Saw people for who they really were. Some of us... don't know anymore. "

Oscar can't grasp his own personal super power that's "a part of himself" when he doesn't know who he is. He's losing himself to the merge, the boundaries of where he ends and Oz begins are blurring by the day, and he's only 15 and still growing into the person he could become. And the one person that was always certain of who he was, always made him feel like he was his own person... isn't around anymore. So he feels even more detached from his identity and the parts that comprise it than ever before.

But she returns in Vacuo before their final fight, and his semblance has been teased too many times to never appear. So my current guesses are either:

he's going to unlock it under stress to save Ruby from certain danger, because he "lost her once and won't risk it a second time"; or

he's going to unlock it in a different, maybe even quieter moment, where - once again, thanks to Ruby's certainty - he starts feeling like himself again.

Only one way to find out.

#greenlight volume 10 #as to guesses on what his semblance will BE #well #that's a different meta entirely #rwby #oscar pine #theories #rwby theory #rwby meta #meta #analysis #not technically #rosegarden #rwby rosegarden #but i'll tag it anyway

[rwbyrg]

Have you two ever considered standing more than 5cm apart at every given opportunity, or...?

#they're so clingy #they do this all through volume 7 #aka #WHEN THEY'RE ARGUING WITH EACH OTHER #unbelievable #rwby #ruby rose #oscar pine #rwby rosegarden #rosegarden #screencaps

[rwbyrg]

Can't stop thinking about this shot. How all the other characters are facing the camera, chest angled forward... except for Oscar.

Instead his back is facing us, red shoulder patch inspired by Ruby in full focus.

#everything is rg if you try not even that hard at all #rwby beyond #rwby spoilers #ramblings #also very interested to see the Oscar and Theodore dynamic #what a great setup

[rwbyrg]

Reasons Why Rosegarden is Canon: #011

Hand holding out of frame. Seriously. Why are you two standing so close together?? And in front of everyone no less???

#get a room >:O #memes #not all of these reasons will be 100% serious #some of them are just for the haha sillies #rwby #ruby rose #oscar pine #rwby rosegarden #reasons why rosegarden is canon

[rwbyrg]

if you ever see me reblog something not rg related here: no you didn't

#tumblr WHY DO YOU KEEP SWITCHING BLOGS ON ME

[rwbyrg]

Reason Why Rosegarden is Canon: #010

Oscar literally says "woah" the first time he sees Ruby.

#i'm not joking #go rewatch if you have to #boy literally said woah #and don't even get me started on how he hovered outside the door #and only actually crossed the threshold when she came down the stairs #but the doors is an entirely different meta i've been meaning to write for ages. one day i'll get there. #reasons why rosegarden is canon #rwby #oscar pine #rosegarden #rwby rosegarden

[rwbyrg]

Ruby and the Splendor Solis

Here comes a quick alchemy meta! Alchemy is an ancient practice, whose goal is to create the philosopher stone. This stone gives immortality, transmutes lead into gold and creates new life (homunculus). From a philosophical point of view, alchemy's aim is to nurture the spirit and to make it perfect.

As @hamliet has explained in several metas, RWBY is an alchemical story, which metaphorically illustrates the procedure to create the stone (RWBY/Ruby).

Today's post will explore Ruby and Maria's interaction in volume 6 episode 8 (Dead End):

As a matter of fact the scene references the 6th plate of the Splendor Solis.

WHAT IS THE SPLENDOR SOLIS?

The Splendor Solis is an alchemical text, which describes how to make the philosophical stone through 22 illustrated plates:

4 introductory plates present the protagonists of the alchemical journey

7 parables illustrate the alchemical death and rebirth

7 flask plates explore the alchemical process from a practical point of view

4 final plates describe the alchemical process from a spiritual point of view

How does Ruby and Maria's scene reference plate 6?

PLATE 6 AND VOLUME 6

Let's begin with describing what plate 6 is like:

This plate has three philosophers under a tree with golden fruits. The tree is a metaphor for the alchemical process as whole. It is the philosophical tree and if you climb it you reach the golden fruit (perfection/the philosopher stone).

The three people embody the phases of alchemy:

The young man climbing the ladder is nigredo (black)

The man who wears white outside and red inside is albedo (white)

The man who wears red outside and white inside is rubedo (red)

Citrinitas (the yellow stage) is instead symbolized by the yellow flowers and by the golden bough the men are pursuing. The scene as a whole represents a transformation, which is why the birds that fly in the sky have some green shades. Green is, thus, the color of transformation.

How does all of this rely to Ruby and Maria?

First of all, the two silver eyed warriors speak under a tree:

With golden fruits:

Secondly, this scene frames Maria as the teacher and Ruby as the student. Maria is initiating Ruby to very important knowledge, so that our young alchemist can continue her journey.

Ruby: I don't know… I don't know anything… What do I tell Jaune and his team when we don't even have a plan? Qrow's out drinking, Ozpin hasn't come back and even if he did, I don't know if I could trust him. And there's always Jinn, but… we only have one more question we can ask her. I feel like I'm letting everyone down… Maria: If you're tired of not knowing anything, how about we discuss those eyes of yours?

MARIA, THE TEACHER

Maria embodies the archetype of the old wise woman. She is a mature version of Ruby (an older silver-eyed warrior), who comes in our protagonist's life to offer guidance. She is the more expert alchemist:

Maria grabs the golden fruit. Symbolically, this shows that she is far ahead of Ruby in the alchemical quest.

This is made clear by her:

semblance

weapon

Preflexes lets Maria sense everything better than others. Metaphorically, it means she has a better understanding of reality than others. This ties with her having wisdom.

Life and Death is made by two kamas that can be combined in a staff:

They can be separated (solvet) and united (coagula). Solvet and coagula is the mantra of alchemy, as this process aims to create the philosophical stone by separating and uniting the elements. Over and over. Until perfection is obtained. Metaphorically, it means a soul is refined through creation and destruction. Life and Death.

RUBY, THE STUDENT

Ruby is young and ignorant. She doesn't know what to do and she doesn't know about her eyes. She is the alchemist apprentice, who is going through a transformation:

Differently from the Splendor Solis plate, there are no birds in the scene. However, the scenery is full of butterflies, which are another symbol of change. Of death and rebirth:

As far as the nature of Ruby's transformation is concerned, the setting gives us some hints, as Maria and Ruby are speaking in a garden full of white snow. That is because RWBY is approaching albedo (the white phase). In particular, volume 6 climax marks Ruby's passage from nigredo to albedo. This process if metaphorically foreshadowed in Ruby and Maria's conversation thanks to a specific visual cue:

Let's look at Maria's plate:

The grapes are purple/black = nigredo, the black phase

The plate is white = albedo, the white phase

The lemons/oranges are yellow = citrinitas, the yellow phase

The strawberries are red = rubedo, the red phase

The kiwis are green = transformation (plus prima materia, aka the beginning)

In short, the plate and fruits are a metaphor for the alchemical process as a whole. What's interesting is that a little butterfly flies on them:

It pauses for a little while on top of the grapes (nigredo) until Maria gently takes it and has it fly forward (towards albedo). The meaning is clear. Maria acts a mentor, who helps Ruby leave the black phase and enter the white one. She gives Ruby the knowledge she needs to face her "trial of fire":

Maria: The light will only work in the presence of Grimm. Meaning the only practice you'll get will be a trial by fire.

TRIALS BY FIRE

Ruby faces her trial by fire in the climax of volume 6, as she fights the Leviathan:

There she uses Maria's teaching and the relic of Knowledge to defeat her foe through her internal light. This moment is when Ruby and the group leave Mistral and the Black Phase once and for all. They are ready to face Atlas and the White Phase.

Still, this isn't the only trial by fire our Little Red Riding Hood has to go through. She struggles through a second one in volume 9, as she and the group leave the White Stage (Atlas) through the Yellow Stage (the Ever After), so that they can enter the Red Phase (Vacuo). Once again this passage is shown through the Splendor Solis.

There is a giant tree:

A wise woman:

Butterflies:

Once again, Ruby is given guided by an older and wiser woman under a tree. This time she has to make a choice to go through a transformation. A process of death and rebirth:

In volume 6 Ruby learns about her internal light, whereas in volume 9 she discovers her inner shadows. In volume 6 she is given knowledge, while in volume 9 she is offered a choice. At the same time, in volume 6 the Splendor Solis reference is focused on a single meaningful scene, while in volume 9 it is more pervasive and present throughout the entirety of the season. In volume 6 the Splendor Solis comments Ruby's journey (the microchosm). In volume 9 this alchemical texts conveys RWBY's adventure (the macrochosm).

However, this isn't the only difference between the two transformative trials.

IDEAL AND REAL

Volume 6 has Ruby become an ideal:

Volume 9 has Ruby grow into herself:

Similarly, in volume 6 she latches on an idealistic idea of Summer (the Huntress), whereas in volume 9 she accepts Summer as a person (the Mother):

This passage from ideal to real isn't something unique to our heroine's arc, but it ties to everyone's story. Here come two examples.

Jaune's arc

In volume 6 Jaune is inspired by Pyrhha to push forward no matter what:

He wants to become more like Pyrrha, his ideal self.

In volume 9 Jaune is taught by Weiss to stop and accept a loss:

He realizes he is good as he is, despite his flaws.

Chemical weddings

In volume 6, Bumbleby goes through their second chemical wedding, where they kill Adam. The focus of Yang and Blake's relationship is that both girls have to become "worthy" of the other:

And now I know I'm worthy of you (Oh can't you see, you could be with me) With every smile you told me, "I love you" (I am your dream, I love you)

They push each other to grow and to become their ideal selves. Yang has to overcome her anger and abandonement issues to stay with Blake. Blake has to stop running away to be by Yang's side. Their fight with Adam tests their progress on their respective flaws.

In volume 9, White Knight has their second chemical wedding, where Jaune dies and is reborn thanks to Weiss. Their bond is about letting go of childish fantasies (the charming prince and the beautiful princess) and to accept the other for who they are:

Weiss: I think you’re asking too much of yourself. We’ve been telling ourselves that failing means we’re no good. But I can guarantee even the best Huntsmen in history… they’ve all lost. But they were still incredibly brave… and good.

They let go of paragons and come to love their real selves with both strengths and flaws. Their conversation in front of the Genial Gems conveys exactly this.

Interestingly, Bumbleby and White Knight foil each other in another way, when it comes to alchemical symbolism.

Bumbleby focuses on death and separation. They represent the "solvet" part of the process.

White Knight is linked to rebirth and union. They explore the "coagula" part of the process.

To be clear, the solvet and coagula parts are present in both relationships. Yang and Blake go through destruction to come back stronger and more beautiful than ever. Similarly, Weiss and Jaune have to face death, so they can be reborn.

Still, the focus of BB's weddings is on death/destruction:

Adam cuts Yang's arm and impales Blake

Adam dies

Whereas WK's weddings climax in resurrection/creation:

Weiss is reborn

Jaune and Ruby are reborn

This is because the two relationships are complementary and illustrate different sides of the alchemical process. However, there is a third ship meant to embody both parts.

RUBY AND OSCAR = SOLVET AND COAGULA

Ruby and Oscar's wedding is kicked off by their first meeting, when Qrow (a bird) brings Oscar to Ruby and unites the Solar King and the Lunar Queen:

Ruby and Oscar's wedding references the imagery above.

It is a union of opposites. The scenery of their first scene together has Ruby marked as fire and air, whereas Oscar is associated with earth and water. Moreover, both the moon and sun are present.

In general, Ruby is moon, silver, red and air, while Oscar is sun, gold, green and earth. They complement each other and are perfectly balanced. So, they don't need a specific focus on neither death nor rebirth because theis arcs are gonna explore both the solvet and the coagula. They are the whole.

This complementarity shows also in Oscar paralleling Ruby during the trials of fire.

While Ruby is talking with Maria and going through an internal transformation, Oscar goes through an external transformation (he changes clothes). Ruby connects with Summer (coagula), while Oscar is free from Ozpin (solvet). Both their transformations are tested in volume 6 climax, where Ruby grows into a leader (macrochosm), whereas Oscar grows into himself (microchosm).

While Ruby struggles with herself in the Ever After, Oscar struggles with Ozpin in Vacuo. Ruby separates her perception of the self from Summer (solvet), whereas Oscar is merging with Ozpin (coagula). Ruby is in a fantastical world symbolic of the inside (microchosm). Oscar is in the real world, which is going through big changes (macrochosm).

Right now, Ruby and Oscar are bound to meet again through Raven (another bird), which might kick off their second alchemical wedding. Not only that, but Raven herself might play the part of the Nevermore, as she wears a Nevermore mask and her name alludes to The Raven, Poe's famous poem and the inspiration for the Nevermore Grimm. If so, this meeting might be Rosegarden nevermore wedding, which for RWBY ships is about overcoming grief and death through love. Another declination of solvet and coagula.

#meta #analysis #not mine #oh this is delightful

[rwbyrg]

The Boy Who Fell From The Sky vs. The Girl Who Fell Through The World

#rwby #ruby rose #oscar pine #rosegarden #rwby rosegarden #rwbyrg

[rwbyrg]

She's everything.

She's the strongest child that snuck her way into Beacon. She's Yang's baby sister, someone to be proud of. She's ambitious, brave, special; no normal knees here. She's a leader, she's not a mistake, she's not allowed to be a failure. She's a nuisance and a brat. She's the best of them, she's a hero, she's just like her mother. She's inspiration, courage, purity, and hope. She's clever as a whip and twice as quick, and doesn't give herself enough credit. She's a girl, she's a gun, she's the silver bullet that kills the wolf and the wicked witch alike. She's always known what she wanted to be, she always knows the right thing to do. She's a role model to be looked up to by people older than herself. She's a wanted criminal by a fallen kingdom, the face of the resistance, and a martyr. She never should have been born. She's a mirror, she's the moon, reflecting the light of the world onto darkness. She's a spark that ignites hope, she's a shining beacon, and... she's just a kid, and it must be hard on her too.

What even is she?

The Tree asks Ruby what she wants to be. Gives her the opportunity to become someone entirely new and shed her burdens, or be someone strong enough to bear them.

And she chooses the latter.

And Oscar Pine stands in the desert and speaks to her through her grave. He tells her if he could borrow anything from her, it would be her certainty. Because in the eyes of Oscar Pine - someone who has always seen her past the pedestal - Ruby Rose is someone who persists.

She always believed things would work out, up until the moment they didn't. Which means she was wrong, right? Her certainty wasn't truth. They failed. She's gone.

But her faith is so infectious that even in his hopelessness and grief, he still believes she's coming back. Because she is certainty. Because she is persistence.

And then she goes and proves him right.

If I think about Oscar likening Ruby to certainty for too long, I will become so unwell they'll have to ship me to the seaside to recover.

#rosegarden #is this a #meta #or #analysis #am I just losing it again #i dont know but i need to chew glass

[rwbyrg]

If I think about Oscar likening Ruby to certainty for too long, I will become so unwell they'll have to ship me to the seaside to recover.

#rwby #ruby rose #oscar pine #rosegarden #rwby rosegarden

[rwbyrg]

RWBY: How it Started vs. How it's Going

#ship parallels #gifs #rosegarden #whiteknight #bumbleby #renora

[rwbyrg]

Reason Why Rosegarden is Canon: #009

"I don't want to be me anymore (after seeing a world without you in it)" vs. "I don't know who I am anymore (in a world without you in it)"

#others have already pointed out #but the brainworms are back so here i am #rwby #ruby rose #oscar pine #parallels #rosegarden #rwby rosegarden #reasons why rosegarden is canon